Museum plans to be unveiled
Plans for a new Black Country glass museum will be put forward next year after nearly two years on the drawing board. The centre, along Stourbridge's Crystal Mile, would display hundreds of unseen glass treasures. Plans for a new Black Country glass museum will be put forward next year after nearly two years on the drawing board. The centre, along Stourbridge's Crystal Mile, would display hundreds of unseen glass treasures. A feasibility study into the project, called Melting Pot, is being carried out by experts and is expected to be ready for consideration by Dudley Council next year. Councillors and officers will then look at ways of raising funds for the project – likely to be built along the Crystal Mile. This runs from the Ruskin Glass Centre, Amblecote, to the Broadfield House Glass Museum, Kingswinford. The scheme is designed to complement, rather than replace, existing glass sites along the stretch, including the Dial Glassworks and famous Red House Glass Cone. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Plans for a new Black Country glass museum will be put forward next year after nearly two years on the drawing board. The centre, along Stourbridge's Crystal Mile, would display hundreds of unseen glass treasures.
A feasibility study into the project, called Melting Pot, is being carried out by experts and is expected to be ready for consideration by Dudley Council next year. Councillors and officers will then look at ways of raising funds for the project – likely to be built along the Crystal Mile.
This runs from the Ruskin Glass Centre, Amblecote, to the Broadfield House Glass Museum, Kingswinford.
The scheme is designed to complement, rather than replace, existing glass sites along the stretch, including the Dial Glassworks and famous Red House Glass Cone.
Plans for a museum to display more of the borough's collection were first discussed in the 1990s, with Himley Hall chosen as the site for the scheme. The plan was under consideration from late 1991 until 1995 but came to nothing.
Cabinet member Councillor Charles Fraser Macnamara said the new project was still in its early stages.
"Like all projects of this type, we have had to make a number of changes to the plans before commissioning the feasibility study," he said.
"There was also an added delay as the consultant was tied up with another project. However, work on the study has now started and will be completed next year.
"From there, we can look at the scheme more clearly and make decisions on how to proceed."
Dudley Council wants more of the borough's glass to be exhibited for the public – only 25 per cent of the total collection is currently on display. It is hoped the scheme would boost tourism.
A previous glass centre, in Audnam, closed in 2005 to be replaced by a Tesco Express and fast-food restaurants. The Crystal Glass Centre housed a number of glass collections, which were for sale rather than display.
But Councillor MacNamara said the council had not been able to purchase the property as owners at the time had different ideas for its use. "Quite simply we were never offered the chance to buy it," he said.
