It’s Time to Hold Council to Account – says MP

Thursday, 18, Jun 2009 12:00

Stourbridge MP, Lynda Waltho, will be raising the issue of the future of the Stourbridge Glass Collection at Broadfield House on the floor of the House of Commons this afternoon.

Lynda has secured a debate on Broadfield House and will be raising the issue directly with the Ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Lynda said “I requested the debate because I think it’s important that Dudley Council is held to account for their decisions and the way they have handled this from the beginning. There has been great strength of feeling in the constituency and it’s only right that the Council is held to account.

“Since January the Council has been keeping local people in the dark and hasn’t been honest with them about their intentions. The Council hasn’t been treating them fairly and they haven’t been treating the experts fairly.

“The information the Friends of Broadfield House has received from the Council has been confusing and evasive at best and directly misleading at worst. Campaigners have been becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of meaningful dialogue and it’s about time the Council was more honest with local people about its intentions and really listened to what people think.

“I have not been at all convinced that the Council has the preservation of the Glass Museum at the heart of its plans. It would be disastrous for the region’s heritage and for the glass industry if the collection were to be hidden away, split up or reduced in any way.

“I am concerned that the proposals serve only as a short-term money-saving ploy, with no real consideration given to the long-term future and importance of the Stourbridge Glass Collection and I will be asking the Minister to intervene.”