Plan for Walsall history and museum complex

A new museum and history complex containing Walsall's archives could be created next to the town's landmark leather museum, under multi-million pound plans unveiled today.

Moves to bring Walsall Museum and the Local History Centre under one roof have been under discussion for more than four years.

And it has now emerged that council bosses are looking at moving them together with the leather museum in Littleton Street West. A bid could be made for Heritage Lottery money to help fund the project.

There have been calls to keep all archives together in the heart of the borough as the Local History Centre is currently based in Essex Street. It was closed on Mondays and Fridays earlier this year under cost-cutting measures.

The museum is above Walsall Central Library, in Lichfield Street.

Councillor Anthony Harris, Walsall Council's culture chief, said: "We are exploring the possibility of creating a heritage centre for Walsall.

"This would create a single venue displaying and offering access to the history of Walsall through artefacts, documents, maps, pictures, costume and verbal accounts and offer an exciting 'one stop shop' facility for people of all ages."

A report has been sent to cabinet members as part of budget proposals for the next four years. It says: "Visitors would benefit from a purpose-built facility that would enable the exploration of family and community history in a single trip."