A WORLD famous tourist attraction in Kingswinford is facing the axe as part of latest council cost-cutting plans.

It is believed staff at the popular Broadfield House Glass Museum have already been told the renowned Compton Drive museum, which houses one of the finest glass archives in the country, will close by April 2010.

The plan is to move the site’s esteemed collection of historic pieces to Wordsley’s Red House Glass Cone, but glass enthusiasts say it is “ill-thought out” and the museum closure would constitute “civic vandalism”.

John Sanders, from the Friends of Broadfield House group, said: “Broadfield House Glass Museum is the most prestigious glass museum in the United Kingdom. It is world-renowned.

“It’s status and reputation have been established over some 30 years.

“If the present proposals cause Broadfield House Glass Museum to cease to exist we shall be witnessing an event of civic vandalism.”

He said plans have been mooted for many years to move the Broadfield collection to a proposed purpose created glass heritage centre on the Red House Glass Cone site.

But no decision - to their knowledge - was ever made.

However - the council today (Wednesday January 14) confirmed that closing Broadfield is part of this year’s cost-saving budget proposal, which was approved by the cabinet on January 7.

A spokesman for Dudley Council said the plan is due to be discussed further at tonight’s select committee on regeneration, culture and adult education (Wednesday January 14) taking place at Dudley Council House at 6pm - and the proposal will still have to go before the council for a final decision on March 2.

Barbara Beadman, chairman of the Friends of Broadfield House, said: “It would be very disappointing if the decision’s a done deal. It’s ill-thought out. It would just be a mess, an absolute mess.”

For the latest developments on the story, including a round-up of the debate from the select committee, log onto stourbridgenews.co.uk tomorrow (Thursday January 15).