Broadfield campaigners slam council "gag" (From Stourbridge News)

Broadfield campaigners slam council "gag"

12:43pm Friday 3rd April 2009 in Search

CAMPAIGNERS say they will not be gagged from speaking out in the battle of Broadfield House museum.

The row over Dudley Council proposals which include the possible closure of the world-famous glass museum in Kingswinford erupted at a meeting of Brierley Hill Area Committee on Thursday April 2.

A leading member of the friends group for the Compton Drive centre slammed a council policy of referring enquires about the issue to their marketing department.

Barbara Beadman, chairman of the friends group, claimed the policy meant councillors and officers had been banned from speaking to members of the public about the plan.

She said: “The council and officers have set yourselves against people who care about glass and heritage in this area.”

Kingswinford North councillor, Dave Tyler, said: “I refuse to be gagged, I will stand up for people who worked in the glass industry and for those youngsters who want to.

“The way this was launched is a disgrace.”

Dudley director of Urban Environment, John Miller, hit back, insisting nobody had been gagged and the council wanted to respond to high numbers of enquires about the issue “properly” through their marketing department.

Mr Miller also revealed a feasibility study process was under way into the future of the Broadfield House collection and the council was deciding which consultancy firm will carry out the work.

He added the results of the study would be presented to the council’s cabinet in October and repeatedly denied any decision on closing Broadfield House had already been made.

Cllr Tyler presented a petition to the meeting containing over 6,000 names from people opposed to any loss or reduction of glass heritage.

He said any decision which would lead to a loss of parts of the glass collection would be a “national disgrace”.

Cllr Tyler is also demanding for a one-off meeting of the area committee as part of a public consultation on the future of the collection.