PREPARATIONS to open a new world class glass museum in Wordsley are among projects in the borough that have ground to a halt amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The British Glass Foundation, the organisation behind plans to open the new White House Cone museum of glass in Camp Hill, has cancelled all activities due to the COVID-19 crisis that has led to government warnings to stay indoors.

Graham Fisher, spokesman for the BGF, said: “The Trustees of BGF recognise the gravity of the current pandemic and extend our solidarity with all affected by it together with our admiration for those tackling it."

The BGF had been making great strides towards getting the facility to replace the old Broadfield House Glass Museum opened, with a planned opening date of July 2021 but this will now inevitably be delayed.

Having secured a £980,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund earlier this year - the group had been due to go out to tender for the internal fit-out of the museum and was in the process of recruiting for a museum director whose salary would be be covered by the grant funding for three years.

But Mr Fisher said: “In light of Government guidelines all BGF meetings and functions, including interviews for various roles, submissions for tenders, grant progress, displays and demonstrations etc have been suspended until further notice.

“The furnace at White House Cone museum of glass has been shut down, initially for a period of three months and, with the exception of inspections for essential maintenance or any safety-critical issues, the entire facility is now closed.

“The GlassCuts editorial team will similarly go off-line until further notice.

“We are maintaining all email, website and social media links and continue to welcome communications. However, in the current climate we may only be able to offer a limited response.

“We would also mention that as the BGF Office is separate from White House Cone in a commercial facility (Hulbert Properties Limited) that is also shut down - any written material delivered by post either to the new museum or to Hulberts may be subject to a lengthy delay in response.

“Despite these setbacks BGF remains committed in its aims and, when this is all over, we will resume our efforts to get the job done.”