Public pack meeting on fate of glass museum

Broadfield House in Kingswinford could shut under cost-cutting plans which would mean moving the glass collection at the site to the Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley. A feasibility study is being carried out by L& R Consulting. Last night glass enthusiasts, residents, and Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho turned out to voice their views.

During the joint meeting of Brierley Hill and Stourbridge Area Committees there were calls for a 'world-class' glass attraction in Stourbridge.

Chairman of the Friends of Broadfield House group, Barbara Beadman, made a passionate speech which was greeted with applause.

She said: "We have got 400 years of history and we've got glass to match that. We could be back on the map as a place to visit.

"Please look to the future not two years but 22 years or 90 years, which is the length of the lease on the cone."

Concerns were raised about the suitability of the cone site and there were fears the increase in visitors could cause traffic chaos.

Dora Derby of Bracken Park Gardens, Wordsley, said: "There is no way you can have Broadfield House at the Red House Glass Cone because of the traffic. It is already a bottleneck there."

Many people said the feasibility study was 'too narrow' as only the cone site was being considered.

MP Lynda Waltho said: "What we want to know is that the money we are spending on this feasibility study is not going to be wasted because there are other sites across Dudley South and Stourbridge that are possible. We think it could be a waste of money."

Deputy council leader Les Jones said the feasibility study was only a 'starting point'. He added: "If at the end of this process we do not have a better alternative. Broadfield House will not close. We will look elsewhere for that saving."