Leader accused of being ‘less than truthful’ in Walsall Leather Museum row
The Walsall Leather Museum building has "got no heritage at all" according to the leader of the borough council.
Councillor Mike Bird made the comments in a show on BBC Radio WM while in the hot seat with Ed James on January 14.
Councillor Bird also confirmed that Walsall Council had submitted an offer this week for a town centre building to move the leather museum to.
He said, should the offer be accepted, details of the new location will be revealed "within six weeks".
The remarks were made during a call with leather museum campaigner Vicky Roden.
She asked the leader why he is "going against the wishes of residents and the advice of industry professionals" by closing the museum at its current location on Littleton Street West.
In September 2025, the authority announced plans to convert the museum building into a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) hub for Walsall College.
The council said that the artefacts within the museum would be "re-provided" in another town centre location, which has yet to be confirmed.
When Ms Roden accused Councillor Bird of closing the last museum in Walsall, he was adamant that there is still one open in Lichfield Street.
Ms Roden claimed that the Lichfield Street museum is closed to the public and accused the leader of being "less than truthful".
Later in the show, caller Karen asked whether taxpayers in Walsall will foot the bill to buy the new property and kit it out for the museum.
Councillor Bird replied simply with "no". When pressed for further information he said the money is coming from the capital programme which is allocated specifically for the town centre improvements.
The caller then asked whether taxpayers will foot the refurbishment costs of the existing building to prepare it for Walsall College.
Councillor Bird again said no, adding: “Once the building is transferred to the college it’s down to them to do what they’ve got to do.”
However in October, deputy leader of the authority, Councillor Adrian Andrew, confirmed that taxpayers’ money had already been allocated from the Government’s Community Regeneration Partnership to refurbish it.
Councillor Bird said it costs £17.57 for each visitor at the leather museum, and if "he paid every one £10 to go home", the council could "save money".
There were 8,000 visitors to the facility over the last three years. Caller Karen said the council should have marketed the facility better to increase visitor numbers.
Councillor Bird said: “The leather museum is not being closed. It is being relocated to a venue which is commercially confidential at the moment as we’re still negotiating.
“Special Education Needs is a priority of mine and the building that will be vacated will be used for that purpose. At the end of the day my job is to look after the majority of people in Walsall, not the minority.“
