Dudley council is to extend a feasibility study into amalgamating the borough’s glass collections at the Red House Glass Cone site in Stourbridge. Most of the collection is currently housed at Broadfield House Glass Museum in Kingswinford.
At a cabinet meeting last month, council members opted to press ahead with a more detailed investigation that will also examine expansion plans for the Stuart Crystal glass shop and associated buildings on the Red House Glass Cone site.
The council bought (“subject to contract”) the shop, which closed early last year, after owners Waterford Wedgwood Group went into administration.
“As we already had a 99-year lease on the Cone, it made sense to put in a bid and unify the site,” said councillor David Stanley. “The first stage of the feasibility study is now complete and we are in a position to potentially move the work on to another level.”
But Janet Hendry, of the Save our Glass Heritage group, said: “They are not looking at alternatives, such as expanding the Broadfield House site.
“These glass collections are too important to be treated in this way.”