FEARS over the safety of Wordsley's historic Red House Glass Cone have kept the attraction from opening up to visitors and glass artists despite the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Concerns over falling debris have been blamed for the closure of the cone which has been out of action for more than 12 months - since before the pandemic hit.

The visitor centre, shop and individual craft studios have now re-opened at the site in Camp Hill, following the lifting of certain coronavirus lockdown restrictions from April 12.

But the iconic cone structure, which is Grade II* listed and a Scheduled Monument, remains closed due to health and safety fears. The attached glassblowing studio is also closed.

Stourbridge News: Wordsley’s Red House Glass Cone.

Stuart Connelly, Dudley Council's head of leisure, culture and bereavement services, said: “The council took the difficult decision to close the cone structure last February due to safety concerns.

“We commissioned a detailed survey to identify the scope of the work required to re-open it safely, and we are still awaiting the structural report back from the historic architects.

“We will inform our craft tenants and members of the public as soon as we know more.”

Mr Connelly said a meeting would soon be held with Historic England to discuss appropriate action and he added: “Unfortunately at present the recommendation is for the cone to remain closed.

“We regret the impact this is having however, as I'm sure people appreciate, our over-riding priority must be ensuring the safety of staff, visitors and those working within the building.”

A cherry picker arrived on the site on April 8 so checks on the brickwork could be carried out ahead of the museum's reopening.

In a news release issued to media outlets, this was badged as part of a spruce up of the site which has undergone a mini facelift during lockdown which has seen internal and external decoration work carried out and new outside furniture installed.

The release said the cone was given a 'once over' and that structural architects CTD had been appointed to carry out a full survey of the structure and provide a long-term plan for future maintenance but no details about safety concerns were mentioned.

The News, however, understands falling debris is one of the concerns that has forced the closure of the cone itself and the surrounding exhibition spaces.

Resident glass artist Charlotte Hughes-Martin said when contacted by the News that it had been a testing year coping without the use of the on-site hot glass studio coupled with the impact of the pandemic.

She said: "It sucks. It's been really, really difficult."

The loss of the glassblowing facility has made it hard for her to complete orders on time and left her unable to organise any of her popular glassblowing workshops that may have been able to restart with the easing of Covid restrictions.

The shut down of the hot glass studio has also impacted on grieving relatives who have had to wait months in some cases for memorial jewellery created using funeral ashes as Charlotte and her colleagues who trade as Glass Quarter Designs have struggled to secure studio time at other facilities in the area to allow the swift fulfilment of orders.

According to Historic England advice was given to Dudley Council back in 2015 along with a metric survey specification to commission a survey to record the shape of the kiln and monitor movement and last year structural engineers, The Morton Partnership, and CTD Architects were appointed.

A spokesperson for the public body that looks after England's historic environment said a condition survey has now been undertaken and said: "A report with recommendations for repair is due to be presented to Dudley Council next month.

"We are here to offer further advice to the council should they need it.”