Walsall Council cuts: Pressure piles up to save town's heritage

This second petition with more than 1,500 signatures, which calls for Walsall Leather Museum to be saved, comes as a petition calling for Walsall's New Art Gallery to be saved has passed the 5,500 signature mark.

Both are under threat as part of Walsall council's saving proposals which have been put out for public consultation.

The council wants to stop funding the art gallery, leaving it to fend for itself or close.

It also wants to relocate the Leather Museum into the central library along with the local history centre.

This is the fourth petition that has started since the council announced its proposed savings last month.

The petition to save the Leather Museum reads: "Walsall Leather Museum is at threat - and it would be crying shame if this brilliant place were to disappear.

"Where else in our town is there such dedication to our history and heritage? Where else can we get hands on with our past? Where can you do this for free?

"The art gallery always feels like a soul-less place that could be anywhere, with a coffee shop that's just another in a chain.

"Our museum is rooted in the community - an independent cafe to drop in for a cuppa, a place to just be.

"So Walsall Council we ask you to reconsider your current plans. You've already closed other museums in our town, we've already lost so many of our beautiful buildings so please protect our heritage.

"Save Walsall Leather Museum and save our history for our children, and our children's children."

Speaking when the proposed cuts were first announced Councillor Sean Coughlan, the leader of Walsall Council, said that by 2020 the town could be left with no museum, no art gallery, no youth service and just one library.

He added: "Public services are at the point of breaking right across Walsall."

However the plans are not final, with Councillor Coughlan saying he and his council will 'listen to and respond to the community'. Ultimately whether the art gallery, leather museum or other services are saved across the borough will come down to money and on whether the council can find enough savings elsewhere.

Councillor Coughlan has previously said that he hopes people realise how important some services are and that they will be happy to pay a bit extra in order to keep them open.