More than £1 million is to be spent on preserving landmark pithead buildings at a former colliery.
Leicestershire County Council, which owns Snibston Discovery Museum, in Coalville, said repairs would start soon.
The 19th century buildings are listed as an ancient monument but have fallen into decline.
The announcement of the £1.4 million repair package coincided with the buildings again appearing on English Heritage's annual "at risk" register.
The heritage watchdog said the pithead structures were in a very bad condition.
Councillor David Sprason, County Hall's cabinet member for adults and communities, said: "I'm pleased to announce that the county council is spending £1.4 million to conserve the former pithead colliery buildings at Snibston, over the next 18 months.
"The work was agreed in the council's current budget, to comply with the requirements of English Heritage and ensure that the buildings are wind-proof and watertight.
"While work takes place, it is intended that the museum will remain open and that tours of the colliery will continue, subject to certain restrictions as different phases of work take place.
"For a period of time next year, the colliery headstocks will be covered with sheeting and scaffolding, but we will explain to visitors what work is taking place on them.
"There have been a number of plans for the buildings in the past, which, at the end of the day have not proved viable, but we do want to protect the historic structure.
"It is the last standing pithead of its type."
The council chose to take the £1.4 million from its reserves after dropping a Lottery funding bid for £4.2 million in December which could have paid for improvements to the discovery museum.
County council leader Nick Rushton said at the time he did not want to take the cash on offer from the Heritage Lottery Fund because it might have to be paid back in the future and because of conditions that would be attached to the grant.
Coalville's Labour district councillor John Legrys said the £1.4 million would allow merely "patchwork" improvements.
He said: "Those buildings have the same heritage status as Stonehenge but are in a bad state.
"However, the work they are proposing is like painting over rotting timber frames. It's just cosmetic.
"Those buildings have been on the English Heritage at risk register for years and need some fundamental work doing.
"The £1.4 million won't be enough for the job.
"The Conservatives at County Hall could have taken the money from the Heritage Lottery Fund but they didn't.
"As a result, all they will be able to do is prop things up rather than repair them as needed."
Former miner Roy Howe, 87, who worked at the colliery for 36 years, said: "People seem to be attached to those buildings, but they are dilapidated.
"I don't think they can be saved now. People have criticised me in the past when I've said this, but I don't think it would be a bad thing.
"You can remember the mining that happened there without having those buildings."
Next week County Hall's cabinet will be discussing the future of the driving range and nine-hole golf course that make up part of Snibston's 98-acre country park.
The council leases the land to a business, but the contract is coming to an end and future option for the area will be considered in a meeting behind closed doors.
