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Broadfield House Glass Museum - the next step...

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Anne:
Will, welcome to the board and thank you for your update on the current situation. It's sad to hear that Dudley MBC has done a U-turn - although I suspect many of us aren't surprised to hear it - most politicians appear to be less trustworthy by the day if the news stories are to be believed!

The board has supported the campaign to save the museum from the outset - we as glassies know its value but we need to get that message back out again to the wider community, this time going to national government and press and making as much fuss as we can. We have elections on the horizon - can we use this in some way to push the campaign along?

There are lots of people willing to help, we just need to know how best to do so. :)

nigel benson:
Hello All,

In a meeting with campaign representatives in December the council, through Cllr Les Jones, made it very clear that they were going on with the RHC proposals regardless of what we campaigners think, feel, or believe.

For my part I fervently believe this to be a mistake on behalf of DMBC, not because of my bias toward protecting the heritage of British glass, but also because I truly think they are missing a major opportunity to aid local regeneration and increase visitors to the area - which in turn will mean income to the locality.

Of course this is only an opinion, however DMBC appear to give great credence to opinion, since their own officer, Duncan Lowndes, gave his opinion in that same meeting that a Trust for the museum, its collections and archives, would not work. There was no empirical evidence for this, purely an opinion. Apparently that is OK when it is an officer of DMBC .

Whereas Duncan Lowndes cannot back up his opinion with facts, I can - by using DMBC's own documents, whereby they clearly state that their aim is to increase overnight stays in the area.

So, in order to do this they propose close a good attraction that they have not given publicity to over the years (BHGM), in favour of supporting an ailling attraction (RHC) which they cannot close, since, if they do, they will have to repay monies given by European Funding to revamp the RHC.

Of course, rather than examine what might work on that site they follow a course that is based purely on an idea, without substantiation, that by moving another attraction in it will answer the problem. Forget the problems associated with the 'A' road passing by, and the lack of parking facilities that are actually NOT owned by the council. Instead follow a 'wizzo' idea.

If DMBC were serious they would have gone about this in a direct way, rather than hide their intentions behind what they will claim to be an independent study - which it cannot be since it's terms of reference were dictated by themselves, through their officers, and not the wider requirements of the borough dictated by their own documents and proposals for the area regarding regeneration and tourism.

Furthermore, when challenged to substantiate the figure of £7 million pounds to develop an unspecified site, they refused - might this be because in someone's opinion  it will cost that much. Why, because whoever it was stuck their finger in the air and the answer was (shock, horror) £7m !!!

What a bunch of untrustworthy, devious people we really are dealing with. But, why should I be surprised, they are politicians, albeit led by officers of the council.

When the council representative appointed to read this thread does so, please report my comments in full.

Many thanks, Nigel Benson

Will F:
What I could not understand as well, was that the Council believe that they can get 50,000 people a year through the doors of the so called "new" Red Cone site...Do they really believe that about 1000 people a week would be able to go through the facility and would be able to park their cars, with only about 40 car park spaces nearby... Crazy or what ! AND that's with them cramming the Glass Collection into a dark building that has to be altered to accommadate differently abled persons to view the collection.
The whole idea is madness with the intent to release funds from the sale of the Broadfield House building and use public funds to support that sale.
I would love to know the names of the people that the Chairman of the Council meeting said he spoke to " That were very high up in the Glass industry" as I know a vast amount of "those" people, I would love to talk to them as well and see what they make of it all.
Then with the Main road that is always congested and also a canal running on the otherside of the Cone, it is madness to believe that the Council can magic up more space... ohhhhh yeah they (the Council) bought the old building that was a glass company that went bust (due to the lack of passing trade even though they had visitors next door in the Cone) How come that the sale was not for "open" release for potential buyers ??? ohhhh yeah, cheat cards were being used to secure that sale !!!!
The arrogance of the Council that think "they" know best is breathtakingly unbelievable.

Bernard C:
Will — I will add my own warm welcome to the GMB to Anne's (I'm a committee member).

Your comments sparked off an historical line of thought that has not been discussed, although it may not prove useful.   I don't believe that it was just the canals and local resource availability that brought the glass industry to Stourbridge.   Multiple land ownership and its situation in several parishes across a county boundary meant that the glass entrepeneurs could operate relatively free of political interference.   I think our glass forefathers would be horrified at the amalgamation of this area under one remote and hostile authority.

Bernard C.  8)

ps — any possibility of sharing transport to the Dudley / Stourbridge area to keep costs down?

Janet H:
Hi All,

I have been chosen as the Lib Dem candidate for the Kingswinford South Ward. (this is where Broadfield House Glass Museum is)

I have campaigned for 12 months now to preserve, enhance and promote the glass collections and archives.

We are proud of the glass heritage in the Dudley Borough and hope one day to promote it in the manner it deserves.

Janet Hendry
Leader of Save Our Glass Heritage

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