Broadfield House to Close

[malwodyn]

Can I join the queue to pledge at least £20 to the "Save Broadfield House" Fund?  Let me know where to send my cheque.

[nigel benson]

Stephen .... that would be a chap called Pollock-Hill

Sorry, just couldn't resist that open goal


The serious answer I think would be that only a guarantee of funding the museum for a given numbers of years (say 5), and for a serious amount percentage wise, would likely be looked at by DMBC. There are other ideas, which I am sure will be coming onto your radar soon Stephen.

As for the tourism aspect, I have been talking about this on a number of occasions, but I fear that housing is far more in line with current council thinking - despite the current situation. Certainly, their views about the proposed Glass Quarter, which they are about to push through, seem more aligned to reducing the industry in the locality in favour of housing.

They have also albut abandoned the glass industry, both current and historical if you read the Supplementary Planning Document concerning the Glass Quarter. This goes to a council planning meeting on the 18th September (and I believe has to have comment by interested parties by the end of the month).

Heritage is apparently not their bag, despite its obvious use as a draw for visitors, and hence helping regenerate the locality and bringing much needed income to the area.

One chairman of an association observed that it was a shame that it was Dudley that we had to deal with. They have no vision, certainly not the sort that might come from a metropolis like Liverpool or Birmingham. To be fair they also don't have the income, but, so far, they have also steadfastly avoided taking up the offer(s) of help made by the various campaign bodies - so illustrating a complete lack of vision, or inquisitiveness about what might be on offer.

Nigel

[flyboy90]

Watch this space!!
Flyboy.

[Janet H]

Meeting for Broadfield House Glass Museum will take place

Brier School
Bromley Lane
Kingswinford

29 September at 7pm

Great coverage in Stourbridge News today -

http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/4643920.The_world_is_watching__warns_Roadshow_star/


http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/4643824.TV_duo_call_for_world_class_glass_museum/

[Anne]

Wonderful coverage Janet, thanks for posting it.  And well done Andy and Eric for going to Dudley too!

[Janet H]

Hi Everyone,

Today we have the leader of the Council saying in today's Birmingham Mail that there should be a fourth option for an official designated national museum on an expanded site. Cllr Millward admitted this morning "That is the fourth option, really." She said the local glass fraternity had pledged to raise a six-figure sum, if the council would match it, to help draw up the ambitious plans and that national regeneration funding could be sought.

Cllr Millward said such a scheme could become a major global attraction because the glass collection was second in importance only to the Corning in New York.

Cllr Lowe is submitting a resolution to the next full council meeting backing the national museum bid.

We have work to do!!

JH

[sph@ngw]

I was informed at the Court meeting of the Glass Sellers Company on Tuesday 23 rd September, by a local to Dudley, that The Broadfield House closure is now " a done deal" ratified by a Council decision on the 4th September, even though the closure date of the consultants' study and review only closed on the 31st August!
Is this true? Did that give them time to summarise teh findings, and distribute this to Councillors, if true?

Also if you look at their website, http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums--galleries/glass-museum/reference/glass-collections, they show a photo of the entrance of the BFH Museum and then give the address of all other UK Glass Museums or rather Museums with a glass ( and many are very small!) collection.
Is this the action of a Council, which has not yet decided?
Might it also be that the visitor numbers of 20k p.a. to their proposed site, the Red House Cone, depended on the Stuart Shop which has now closed and is up for sale, and will be much lower in the twelve months that follow! Gift buyers with time would stroll next door and make up the figures!

How on earth will they even get a car park adequate for an enlarged Museum in that location , unless it is on the old Stuart site across the very dangerous humpback bridged, busy main road?
An update please from someone in Dudley on what may be happening , and when a decision will or was taken, please!

[nigel benson]

Stephen,

I may not be from Dudley, but I do keep my ear close to the ground on this particular topic.

Since the beginning of this whole campaign, back in early January, it has been said by some that it is a 'done deal', including your recent visitor. Whether that is true, or understandable fatalism on behalf of a few people, perhaps only time will tell.

What I do know is, a huge number of people in the Dudley locality, and out here nationally and internationally are totally against the move to the RHC site - and we will go on campaigning until a World Class Glass Museum is achieved. Even if DMBC do decide to go down the uninspired and easier route of shoving as little as possible into an unsuitable site it is important for us all to have a clear vision out here - despite the difficult financial times we find ourselvs in.

I am sure you are aware of some of the things that are going on without the glare of publicity, and I sincerely hope that the council continue to go down the route that their leader, Anne Millward, has indicated.

Your point about visitor figures at the RHC diminishing this year, because of the lack of visitors to the old Stuart Shop, is well made and only emphasises the increase in numbers that are visiting Broadfield House Glass Museum as a result of all the publicity it is at last receiving (these have doubled in 2009 compared to 2008, something that DMBC are keen not to admit). It also illustrates how the visitor figures to the RHC site were achieved - certainly not through specific visits to the Cone and any glass on show there!

DMBC, and their own publicity department, have long since put BH on the back burner as far as publicity is concerned, which is why the current publicity is having such an effect - BH has been the borough's closest guarded secret!! Even locals who didn't know of its existance now visit and are amazed at the treasures held there.

At the moment the consultants, L&R, have suggested the proposed work at RHC could cost between £3m and £5m, totally wiping out any advantage in selling the BH site should they decide to spend the money.

So, why continue to pursue this ridiculous policy when all that they are likely to save is the yearly £120,000 that represents the loss of salaries and some other running costs of BH?

I say 'only' £120K, since surely that amount would be far outweighed by the income to the locality that is likely to occur as a result of supporting the museum and giving the publicity it deserves, as well as sorting out the sign-posting?

Finally, it is interesting that the October closing date for Stage 2 of L&R's feasibilty study has been put back to December as they need more time to complete the report thoroughly.

Recent events have suggested a possible change in attitude by at least some of the DMBC councillors, so I would suggest that we all need to carry on pursuing the goal of a better museum giving the collections and archives the status they deserve as the "Mecca for glass" in this country, as well as ensuring it's role on the world stage of glass.

Nigel

[Janet H]

There was a packed meeting held in Kingswinford on 29th September 2009. Thank you to William Fludgate Chairman of the Scientific Glass Blowers for travelling 200 miles in one evening to be with us!

Here is the press coverage from the meeting.

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2009/10/01/row-over-plans-to-move-collection-to-red-house-glass-cone-stourbridge-65233-24824086/

http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/4656435.New_glass_museum_would_cost___3_5m/

[Janet H]

The day has arrived. On the 12th October 2009 there will be a resolution put forward by Cllrs Lowe & Tyler. This is a historic day for the collections and archives held at Broadfield House Glass Museum. The Cllrs will be asking for cross party support in future to create a museum of national importance for the collections and archives.

If you are free come and join us at On Monday 12th October 5.30pm on Council steps, Priory Road, Dudley.

This is everything the campaigners have been fighting for and we hope we can make history in our part of the world!

[sph@ngw]

Surely all the supporters already believe that Broadfield House is THE Museum of national importance regarding English glass, its history and heritage? Why re invent the wheel. Surely the question is how can it be better financed and its future safeguarded?

[flyboy90]

Think about this, what we need is people to turn up for photo shot and the meeting, AS we are not recognized by Dudley mbc as a NATIONAL GLASS MUSEUM,so please
lets try to convince them, we have to take grasp every chance we are offered  and next Monday is a opporrtunity we have to take, COME ONE WAKE UP.
FLYBOY.

[nigel benson]

Stephen said,

Surely all the supporters already believe that Broadfield House is THE Museum of national importance regarding English glass, its history and heritage?

Yes that is quite correct Stephen and your point about not re-inventing the wheel is fair, however it is DMBC that we have to convince, not ourselves.

Since the recent presentation to councillors at BH by Eric Knowles and Andy McConnell with Graham Knowles, the museum's oldest and regular benefactor, there have been signs that some leading coucillors are beginning to understand what we're saying and voice it.

The resolution by Cllr Peter Lowe will hopefully be adopted by DMBC, although there may be some alteration in order for them to be able to.

This is an important meeting coming up and, as Flyboy says, we need as many people to support it as possible. Therefore, particularly if anyone out there is local, then please try to turn up to help........and bring a friend/the family/neighbours 

Kind wishes to all, Nigel

[Janet H]

Hi All,

Just got back from the Council House - The Resolution Passed Easily! The leader of the Council Anne Millward said she would not close Broadfield House Glass Museum "On her watch"!

All the campaigning was successful - A million thanks go out to Barbara Beadman, Adam Aaronson, Graham Cooley, Charles Hajdamach, Nigel Benson, Andy McConnell, Eric Knowles, Will Farmer, Brian Clarke and John Smith.

A big thank you to John Smith at Broadfield for always opening the museum for me when press and visitors came to the museum.

Jan H

[pamela]

Congratulations!  :chky:
 
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