TV star dubs cllr "Homer Simpson of Culture" (From Stourbridge News)

TV star dubs cllr "Homer Simpson of Culture"

3:25pm Wednesday 11th March 2009

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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.

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