Council Must Work With Local People – Says Minister

Friday, 19, Jun 2009 12:00

Stourbridge MP, Lynda Waltho, yesterday raised the issue of the Stourbridge Glass Collection on the floor of the House of Commons. The Culture Minister, Barbara Follett MP, responded by warning Dudley Council not to take risks with the collection, not to implement and unnecessary closures and to listen to the local community.

Lynda said “It was important that Dudley Council were held to account in the House of Commons and I welcome the Minister’s warning to the Council not to take risks with the collection. It is vital that local people are involved and that experts are consulted. There are still far too many unanswered questions for my liking, and the Council continues to be evasive and misleading in their communications with the Friends of Broadfield House. This issue is far from over and I will continue to put pressure on the Council to the best of my ability to make sure that the Collection does not suffer in any way.”

The Minister added that she hoped the Council would “make a considered decision that leads to the best possible outcome for the potential of the museums in the area, that ensures that this treasure of a collection is made as accessible as possible to the local community, and that ensures that it is kept together.”

The debate also received cross-party support as Tory MP Patrick Cormack added his support for the museum. He congratulated Lynda on her speech and said “She is performing a very real service. It is crucial that this internationally famous collection be kept together and displayed, preferably in the historic setting that it already enjoys. I will do anything I can to help her.”

Lynda has invited Patrick Cormack and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts and Heritage to visit Broadfield House and see the Stourbridge Glass Collection for themselves.