Historian calls for major investment

A historian says major investment is needed to preserve a Black Country borough's glassmaking heritage and create a world-class attraction.

Dudley's former senior museums keeper Charles Hajdamach raised concerns about Dudley Council's move to close Broadfield House Glass Museum, Kingswinford, and transfer exhibits to the Red House Glass Cone museum, Wordsley.

The council says closing Broadfield House would save up to £120,000 per year and raise cash through selling the building. Mr Hajdamach believes moving from Compton Drive to the Wordsley High Street cone may spell the end of the Dudley borough's rich glass history – unless it is handled correctly.

"The Red House Glass Cone site is currently not suitable to accommodate all the internationally-renowned collections currently displayed at Broadfield," he said.

"While I am sympathetic towards Dudley Council's plight- everyone is only too aware how tight money is these days – I don't think they have fully thought this move through.

"The only way this could work is if they could find the money or the investment to completely overhaul the Glass Cone." His ideas would include buying land around the cone to accommodate new exhibition halls.

A third site – slightly further along the canal – would be required for parking and he would also like to see a tearoom on two or three narrowboats moored next to the site.

Mr Hajdamach admits ideas would be hard to achieve – especially given the current economic climate – and sites around the canal are already occupied – one with a shop and two with factories or warehouses.

He said: "I have no idea if it would ever be possible to acquire any of this land but if there was a way to do it, then the council really could create the hub they are after.

"But without that kind of commitment, there is no way of achieving the kind of site the Broadfield exhibits deserve."