[jedimaster]

i hope i haven't joined this too late
but they brought in the charge last year to assist in paying for the upkeep of the building and to introduce new exhibits
this charge was introduced by the council who owns the hall and gardens and as such it was decided that burnley residents should get free admission as we already pay for this through our council tax

also many other councils around the country do the same for example in bath residents are entitled to free admission to the roman baths where visitors have to pay etc... so is not discriminatory but common sense