‘The story is not over’ - Campaigners make last-minute push to save Glass Centre with celebration and service
Campaigners hoping to save the National Glass Centre have marched through Sunderland less than a week before the riverside site is due to close.
Campaigners fighting for the future of the National Glass Centre have made another impassioned plea with less than a week until the site’s doors close for the final time.
An estimated 200 people walked from the Glass Centre to St Peter’s Church on Saturday, July 25 to celebrate Wearside’s glassmaking history.
England’s first example of stained glassmaking took place on the church grounds over 1,300 years ago.
“It’s a celebration” explained Carolyn Basings, Chair of the Save The National Glass Centre campaign.
“What happened today is for us” she added after the event. “It’s important for everyone to have the opportunity to gather.”
After making the walk in all black clothing and carrying a piece of glass each, the walk culminated with a reflection at the church from Reverend Jane Rowell.
Rev Rowell reflected on the city’s vital place in the history of glassmaking, saying: “For more than thirteen hundred years, the light has continued to shine through glass in this city.
“Generation after generation has taken the raw materials of the earth and transformed them into something that helps us see differently.”
She added: “Today we bring our own small pieces of glass back to this ancient place. Not because we wish to place them in the past. But because we believe the story is not over.”
The centre, which is operated by the University of Sunderland, is due to close on Friday, July 31.
University heads have consistently reiterated spiralling costs as an underlying reason for the closure. They claim it would cost £45 million to fully repair the building.
With less than a week to go until the closure, campaigners are continuing their fight.
“We’re going to be around next week” adds Carolyn.
“We’re not going to get in the way of the staff because they’re lovely people and they have to put up with the worst possible set of circumstances.
“We’re still busy and we’re still campaigning.”
On Wednesday, July 29 the campaign group will attend a talk about the future of the building hosted by the Farrell Centre, home to the Newcastle University archetectual department.
Following the event, a spokesman for the University of Sunderland said: "It has been over three years since the University first announced the closure of the NGC.
"Despite a range of conversations with individuals and organisations, no feasible plan from any group, including those campaigning to oppose the closure, has emerged to meet the significant financial requirement for capital works, or the c£800,000 annual subsidy currently funded by the University, to provide the NGC with a viable future.
"The University has reiterated throughout this process that nearly 90% of its income comes from student tuition fees. Therefore, the priority, in financially challenging times for the higher education sector, must be to support teaching, research, and knowledge exchange.
"Despite unfounded, and often incorrect, online commentary targeted towards the University during this process, we have remained committed to transparency in our decision-making and we continue to follow all planning rules and guidelines in relation to the closure and subsequent planned demolition of the National Glass Centre (NGC).
"The NGC will close on July 31."