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Author Topic: Broadfield House to Close  (Read 213019 times)

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Offline yelooc

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Re: Broadfield House to Close
« Reply #280 on: March 06, 2009, 01:11:10 AM »
Posted on behalf of Nigel Benson who is unable to access this site at present:
Letter sent to Cllr David Caunt today.

Councillor Caunt,

Like Dr Cooley I am amazed at the totally uninformed opinion expressed by Cllr Anne Millward, which disturbingly, appears to reflect the councils’ own summation of Broadfield House Glass Museum, and exhibits no civic pride in its own heritage.

The Friends of Broadfield House Glass Museum are a locally based group that helps and supports the museum (including helping, through donation, to buy exhibits and archive material) and the idea that it is a “pet project” clearly demonstrates that one of the most important members of the local council has a complete lack of understanding of the situation.

A modicum of research on the Dudley.gov.uk website would have shown her just this. Furthermore, a visit to the museum by her guided by a member of the museum’s staff (and indeed any other member of the council who hasn’t seen or understood what they are voting upon) should be a prerequisite to gain a concept of the national and international status that the museum commands.

These collections and archives are not, and should not be regarded as a quick one hour jaunt that can be ignored by the uninitiated. Without the glass heritage it is conceivable that much of the borough would not now exist.

It is deeply patronising to the locally based association (the Friends) and local objectors to the proposed move to the Red House Cone site, who she has dismissed through a total lack of knowledge. At the same time it is disingenuous to both national and international interests that wish to save the museum, its contents and archive material from being boxed up and hidden in storage.
 
Where on earth does Cllr Millward think tourists come from?

In the council’s own document, Agenda Item 8 - SELECT COMMITTEE ON REGENERATION, CULTURE AND ADULT EDUCATION - 14th JANUARY 2009 - REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT - REPORT ON THE VISITOR ECONOMY , it is stated quite clearly, under point 22 – 

“encourage existing day visitors to become overnight visitors, therefore encouraging greater spend in the local economy.”

The document also discuses the value to the economy of tourism, and also states, under section 49:

             “….attracting top collectors and enthusiasts from around the world.”

And under section 50:

            “……in the region of 10,000 visitors – from all over the UK and the world.”

Both points are being made within the report written by John D Millar, Director of Urban Environment, who is being realistic about tourism and how local income can be achieved. However, if the council insists in limiting itself to a parochial attitude aiming to gain visitors to the museum from its own locality then, by definition, they will go home at night and not spend!
 
Cllr Millward should not only retract her statements, but also apologise for her inept and uninformed comments.

Nigel Benson
 

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Offline yelooc

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Re: Broadfield House to Close
« Reply #281 on: March 06, 2009, 06:58:57 PM »
Letter from Jeanette Hayhurst to Cllr Caunt sent today:

Dear Cllr. Caunt
 
I am writing in response to the attitude of Dudley MBC towards the Broadfield House Glass Museum. I will not repeat my previous  logistical objections but would like to draw some more salient points for your consideration.
 
The expression 'pet project' has been well explained by Graham Cooley and is a total patronising insult to many of us who have supported the Museum for years. The petition has been supported by most of the world leading academics and collectors, the fact that we are not local,  we are deemed to be irrelevant, I was under the impression that the council was trying to encourage visitors to the area. May I remind you that people who have in the past and might have in the future visited BH, have and would have contributed to the local economy. I, like many others, have over many years lectured on many occasions for the Museum and various societies in the Stourbridge area, helping to boost local income  not only in the shops but  hotels and restaurants. I, like many, will no longer visit the Stourbridge area if the collection is pushed into the Cone with the loss of the archive.
 
I cannot believe that the council takes so little interest in the importance of the collections and presumably have never visited the Museum, because if they had they would realise from information boards shown around the galleries, that this museum or our 'pet project' has been supported by major institutions amongst whom are The National Art Collection Fund, The Heritage Lottery Fund and The Victoria and Albert Museum grant scheme. The Atrium was funded by The European Regional Development Fund in 1994 and in 2006 the museum was awarded Small Tourist Visitor Attraction of the Year by the Heart of England tourism.
 
Many of the supporters of the Museum have given up their time, for free, to help source or even curate exhibitions and now feel totally let down by the councils lack of respect for their contribution to your tourist attraction. I personally was responsible for introducing Michael Parkington to Charles Hajadmach, the outcome of which was his important bequest to the Museum, I wish that this never happened, as these wonderful objects would have been sold alongside of the rest of the collection for the benefit of nominated charities and not consigned to ignominy.
 
Jeanette Hayhurst



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Offline Anne

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Re: Broadfield House to Close
« Reply #282 on: March 06, 2009, 08:00:29 PM »
My email to Cllr Caunt on this matter was deleted without being read, according to the read notification I have just had back.

Nice!    :-\
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Offline jsmeasell

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Re: Broadfield House to Close
« Reply #283 on: March 07, 2009, 02:47:07 AM »
Perhaps I am but one voice from "over the water," but I thought others who frequent this board would like to see a copy of my recent email to Cllr Tyler:

Dear Cllr Tyler:

Thank you for supporting the continuance of Broadfield House.

I thought you might appreciate these brief details of my background and a forthcoming trip to your borough.

I have visited Broadfield House several times (1993, 2005, and 2008) in conjunction with research on Harry Northwood, the eldest son of John Northwood. My research resulted in the publication of several books on Northwood glass, and I was pleased to contribute two articles to The Blackcountryman magazine.

Early this year, my wife and I planned a trip to England. We will fly to Manchester, and we have booked a self-catering lodging in Stourton. We expect to shop in the local grocery stores and other shops, and we plan to visit as many glass-related sites in the area as possible during our stay. We will also go to the Black Country Museum. We will attend the National Glass Fair near Birmingham. There are some items I want to see at the Dudley public library, but my research focus will also take me to Broadfield House. In the past, the staff there (particularly Roger Dodsworth) has been most helpful.

While our brief visit may have relatively little impact on the local economy, I daresay there are many others with similar stories, ranging from a pleasant day or two in and around Broadfield House to more extended stays.

I work for a glass manufacturing company in the United States. We have a small museum, and we offer tours of our glassmaking and decorating areas. Tourism is quite important to our overall success, and we consider expenditures to maintain and strengthen tourism to be good investments. In October 2005, we had the great pleasure of welcoming about 30 members of The Glass Association to our plant for a full day of factory tours and special programs.

Kind regards,

James Measell, Historian
James Measell, Historian
Fenton Art Glass Co.

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Offline yelooc

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Re: Broadfield House to Close
« Reply #284 on: March 11, 2009, 08:08:15 PM »
TV star dubs cllr "Homer Simpson of Culture"
Stourbridge News 3:25pm Wednesday 11th March 2009
By Bev Holder

ONE of the country’s top glass experts has branded Dudley’s finance chief the “Homer Simpson of culture” after she labelled a world famous Kingswinford museum a “pet project”.

Andy McConnell, one of Britain’s leading authorities on glassware - and a regular on the Antiques Roadshow, has hit out at Councillor Anne Millward, from Gornal, who made the shock remark at the last full council meeting on March 2 where plans to close Broadfield House Glass Museum were hotly debated.

He told the News: “What this woman has come out with is peculiar. It’s so completely out of order. She’s truly the Homer Simpson of culture.”

TV’s Mr McConnell is one of a host of UK glass specialists left outraged at cllr Millward’s controversial comment.

Many others within the glass community have now called for her to make a public apology or resign. Glass collector Graham Cooley described cllr Millward’s remark as “astonishing” and added: “This attitude demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the passion felt worldwide about this issue.”

While Allister Malcolm, resident glass artist at Broadfield House, said: “It has offended many of the groups whose collective support to the glass world is immense.

“I am truly worried if this statement is not retracted that support from these groups will cease.”

But cllr Millward, who is also Dudley Council’s deputy leader, has refused point blank to back down on her stance.

She told the News: “I will not retract a single word. It’s my job to look after the finances of our council and the borough “I was elected with a very large majority by people in my ward - I certainly will not resign my position as deputy because I want a personal opinion “Less than 20 per cent of our glass is at Broadfield House, it’s in storage.

“I’ve had a number of calls from council tax payers saying they have never heard of Broadfield House Glass Museum.

“I have the vision to have a world glass centre complete with disabled access - not some pet project.”

Dudley Council still claims no decision has been taken to close the Compton Drive museum and that a feasibility study is getting underway to determine whether its collection can be moved to Wordsley’s Red House Glass Cone.

Meanwhile, Minister for Culture, Barbara Follett MP, has vowed to keep an eye on the situation after Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho urged her to intervene to help protect Stourbridge’s glass collection based at Broadfield.

http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/4194385.TV_star_dubs_cllr__Homer_Simpson_of_Culture_/

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Offline aa

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Re: Broadfield House to Close
« Reply #285 on: March 11, 2009, 11:09:47 PM »
TV star dubs cllr "Homer Simpson of Culture"
Stourbridge News 3:25pm Wednesday 11th March 2009
By Bev Holder
“I’ve had a number of calls from council tax payers saying they have never heard of Broadfield House Glass Museum.

Doesn't seem as if that huge PR department at Dudley Council has been doing a very good job, then!  :rn:
Hello & Welcome to the Board! Sometimes my replies are short & succinct, other times lengthy. Apologies in advance if they are not to your satisfaction; my main concern is to be accurate for posterity & to share my limited knowledge
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Offline Anne

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Re: Broadfield House to Close
« Reply #286 on: March 11, 2009, 11:43:37 PM »
My thoughts entirely, Adam!
Cheers! Anne, da tekniqual wizzerd
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Offline nigel benson

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Re: Broadfield House to Close
« Reply #287 on: March 12, 2009, 01:04:00 AM »
                       HELP SAVE BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS MUSEUM
                                         YOUR VOICE COUNTS

Details taken from the Express and Star - 19 August 2008:

"Dudley Council spent £945,000 on public relations in the last financial year – employing 18 full-time Press officers who get an average of more than £32,000 a year. The total staff wage bill, including six part-time staff, was £680,000 while running costs spiralled to £265,000. Figures were released after a Freedom of Information Act 2000 request.

The outlay was attacked as “incredible” but finance chief Anne Millward said taxpayers got value for money. "


What a shame that they didn’t/don't see fit to promote a major museum to its own locality. Says a lot for the publicity machine and about the Dudley MBC over and above the attitude and capabilitiy of Cllr Anne Millward.

Nigel

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Offline yelooc

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Re: Broadfield House to Close
« Reply #288 on: March 12, 2009, 06:30:32 PM »
Message from Simon Bruntnell sent today:

Dear cllr Millward, & cllr Caunt

I would like to introduce myself, my name is Simon Bruntnell I am a freelance photographer based at the Ruskin Glass Centre in Stourbridge. If you look at my website www.northlightphotography.co.uk you will notice I specialise in photographing glass. I now have artists and designers come to me nationally and internationally to have there work photographed by myself. I travel abroad to photograph national collections. Corning Museum in New York collects  printed material that I have produced on glass. All this, within the space of six years, before that I had never photographed a piece of glass. The contacts I have made at Broadfield House Museum as been instrumental
in building up my portfolio and reputation.

I'm Dudley born and bread. I grew up on the Russell's Hall Estate about two or more miles away from  cllr Millward's ward and where my father still lives. I went to Stourbridge Art College.

So I can say with a certain confidence I'm not an outsider, making a fuss, I am very much on the inside as a local, and as a person who makes a living within the glass world, and what a world it is. The through traffic of international names that pass through the doors of Broadfield and the local area goes unnoticed. I think people locally have not expected the national, let alone the international response to the prickly subject of Broadfield House Glass Museum and  closure. I also doubt your council would have expected such a response. But what I never expected was the response's from a public official 'talk about buckets of petrol' I have waited to consider the comments moving backwards and forwards.

All I can say at the moment is, I have an almost embarrassed feeling of being from Dudley with regard to recent statements from your office. 'Pet projects' and 'local people not knowing what Broadfield Museum was' is fairly damming of local people. This lacks insight of people working in public life and politics, because I assume it's the councils job to make sure people do know what and where it is, and not make 'Pig on the wall' statements regarding a national heritage and international treasure. I really do think your office needs to consider it's statements and I really think it would be worth cllr Millward retracting her statement as it's now throwing a bad light on the conservative party in general. We now have TV personalities calling cllr Millward 'The Homer Simpson of culture' It's starting to become personal and I believe it will get worse if action is not taken by you.

Simon Bruntnell

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Offline Anne

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Re: Broadfield House to Close
« Reply #289 on: March 12, 2009, 06:45:58 PM »
Collect It magazine, April 2009, has a large News item about the Broadfield House Glass Museum's uncertain future, with quotes from Mark Hill, Adam Aaronson and me. The piece also includes links to the online petition and the Friends of BH website. (The Collect It website hasn't yet been updated to reflect the April issue contents but when it is it's here: http://www.collectors-club-of-great-britain.co.uk/)
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