47 industry experts ‘alarmed’ by plans for Walsall Leather Museum write to council

One letter is addressed to all councillors at Walsall Council, and the other to Lesley Venables, head of governance at Walsall College.

They are signed by senior lecturers and heads of departments at Birmingham City University and London College of Fashion.

Also numerous leather companies including Beorma Leather Company, Bliss Of London, Bentleys London and Luxe Rebel Leather Co.

On top of that, it is signed by historians Professor Charl Chinn MBE, Michael Glasson, the Heritage Crafts Association, and even TV personality Suzie Fletcher from BBC’s The Repair Shop.

Walsall Council announced in September 2025 its plans to move the museum from its building on Littleton Street West to an unknown town centre location.

It plans to rent the current building to Walsall College for a lease of 125 years at a peppercorn rent.

Nearly eight weeks ago, leader of the authority Councillor Mike Bird, said further information on the new home for the Leather Museum would be announced ‘within six weeks’.

Walsall Council has refused to provide any further information, saying it will ‘issue a statement in due course’.

In the industry letter addressed to the councillors, it said: “Recent media coverage, public statements from serving councillors, investigative journalism and campaign developments have raised serious questions concerning democratic process, scrutiny procedures and potential policy breaches.

“In light of these matters, we urge councillors to pause and fully consider the gravity of the situation. We ask that you act in accordance with the wishes of those you are elected to represent.

“As the situation has developed, our alarm has been further heightened by reports of inadequate consultation, unpublished feasibility documentation, contentious transactions, potential policy breaches and allegations of unlawful governance.

“A decision of this magnitude — with irreversible cultural consequences — must not be made in haste or without full and proper scrutiny.”

In the letter directed to Ms Venables, it said: “We recognise that the college operates within complex financial and strategic pressures.

“However, the proposed acquisition and renovation of the museum building — reportedly involving £2.4 million of public funding — carries significant implications.

“Governors will be acutely aware of their duties under charity and education law to ensure that decisions demonstrably serve the public benefit, protect institutional reputation and are supported by robust due diligence.”

The signatories call on the council to publish details and transparent plans for the project, ask the college to confirm how the proposal advances its charitable objectives and public benefit obligations, and call on both organisations to halt any progress of the scheme.

Lead campaigner Lauren Broxton said: “The letters reflect the depth of feeling and strength of opposition to the potential loss of the museum in its current form.

“They form part of on-going correspondence between industry and council, whilst also appealing to college governors to consider the seriousness of the situation we find ourselves in.”

Walsall Council has not provided a comment regarding the letters.

A spokesperson for Walsall College said: “As part of its internal decision-making process, the college’s corporation and management team has undertaken the appropriate due diligence, including an analysis of the benefits of relocating the college’s SEND provision to the Broadway building for the benefit of students and the wider community.

“This project will significantly enhance the quality and breadth of the College’s facilities for some of our most vulnerable learners.

“These proposals have been carefully evaluated, and we believe that the move will be beneficial for our students and for the town of Walsall. They are also a good fit with the government’s intentions on the reform of the SEND system.

“The college’s approach to date has delivered first class learning services for SEND students for a number of years, including being graded as Outstanding by Ofsted in three consecutive inspections.

“We remain fully committed to maintaining and enhancing further this high-quality provision as part of the college’s corporate plan and its contribution to the success of the town and the borough. We will continue to work hard to meet the evolving needs of employers, communities, children and young people across the borough.

“We would like to clarify that the decision to relocate the museum was made by Walsall Council following a feasibility study commissioned by the council and not by the College.”