‘We are led by potatoes’ – lead campaigner in Walsall Leather Museum fight hits out at council

Lauren Broxton has slammed leaders who have chosen to sell the building to Walsall College against the wishes of the community.

The 35-year-old said the ‘lack of competency’ suggests that the people of Walsall are being ‘led by potatoes’.

Following cabinet approval on Wednesday October 15, the building on Littleton Street West will now be sold to the college for its SEND offering, while the council purchases a new town centre building to ‘reprovide’ the museum.

The controversial decision, originally made on September 24, was brought before a scrutiny committee after five labour councillors called it in.

It brought the decision back before cabinet members, who doubled down on their stance to go ahead with the plans, still providing very few reasons why the public should support it.

Councillor Klara Margetts, speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, said the decision was ‘disrespectful’ to the residents that leaders are elected to serve.

She said: “The Conservative cabinet’s decision to push ahead with the sale of this historic site – ignoring the scrutiny committee’s recommendation to pause and reassess – is not just irresponsible, it is disrespectful to the people they were elected to serve.

“As I said in Tuesday’s meeting, 59 per cent of Walsall residents have voiced their opposition to this relocation, yet their voices are being ignored and dismissed by a cabinet intent on rushing through a sale without any transparency or accountability.

“There are no clear plans, no public timeline for relocation, and as we heard in the meeting, no alternative sites were even considered for the relocation of the SEND offering.

“The Walsall Leather Museum is not just a building – it is the beating heart of our town’s proud heritage, a living testament to the craft and industry that helped shape Walsall’s unique identity.

“Its current location, steeped in history and purpose, is irreplaceable. To tear it away from its rightful home is to sever a vital link to our past, and once lost, it cannot be recovered.”

Lauren Broxton added: “We continue to be gravely disappointed by Walsall Council’s disposal of the Leather Museum.

“It displays blatant disregard for heritage via the tokenistic use of some of the most vulnerable in society to justify their aims.

“The scrutiny committee provided ample opportunity for leaders to demonstrate that they hold the concerns of the communities seriously.

“What we saw in the chamber was contempt for those who ask reasonable questions of their leaders and a refusal to lead with transparency and competence.

“Plans, if they at all exist, remain shrouded in secrecy. That they continue to flit between notions of having a detailed plan and whilst asking for ideas.

“It shows a remarkable lack of competency and the overall suggestion that we are, in fact, led by potatoes.”

A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “It is not our intention to close Walsall Leather Museum.

“We are committed to relocating it to a central location within the town and we are liaising with many stakeholders about how the museum can become more viable in the long term.

“There is a need to increase footfall and improve its offer, so it provides value for money and better represents the history and heritage of our borough.

“We are actively engaged in finding a new home for the Leather Museum. This is currently a commercially sensitive matter, and we will provide updates when we are able to.

“We are keen to engage with anyone who has ideas on how we can fulfil the ambitions that we have for the museum.

“Children are at the heart of everything we do as a council, and this move will provide much needed support for local special educational needs and disabilities students at Walsall College.

“A new building is not planned for the site, and its change of use will ensure there is a supported environment for SEND students as part of the main Walsall College campus.

“We understand that some residents may have concerns about the relocation, but we would like to reassure them that their museum will continue to be an important part of Walsall borough in the future.

“Figures suggesting 59 per cent of residents opposing the move relate to a consultation on proposed savings carried out last year.

“As this consultation did not set out the improvements to facilities for SEND provision, and the current proposals do not include any savings, we consider this figure to be misleading and not reflective of public opinion.”