Council leader confirms new location found for Walsall Leather Museum

He confirmed that a new location had been found for the venue in Tuesday's scrutiny committee meeting; however, the new location will not be revealed for a 'few weeks'.

Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express & Star’s free newsletter

The scrutiny committee was joined by members of the local 'Save Our Leather Museum' protest group, with lead campaigner, Lauren Broxton, voicing the concerns of residents.

Speaking of the importance of the building that currently houses the museum, Ms Broxton said: "At the centre of this issue stands a building, some argue that it is just that, a 'building'.

"However, to the people of Walsall, this building is far more. It is recognised as a flagship museum in a 19th-century former leather factory, and is part of the very heritage that our town is nationally and internationally known for.

"This campaign is about responsibility, accountability, and transparency about how decisions are made in this council. Our petition asks that an open and meaningful public consultation, in line with protocol, be held before final decisions are made."

However, responding to Ms Broxton, Councillor Bird announced that the decision to move the leather museum has already been made and 'will go ahead', and that a purchase for the new building has 'been agreed'.

Responding, Councillor Bird said: "I want to confirm once more that the museum is not closing; it is merely relocating to a building that only yesterday agreed to the purchase.

"I won't say where it is because it is in the legal process, but it is in the central part of the town of Walsall, and it will also be a property where we may be able to make a 'Walsall Museum', a proper cultural heritage centre."

Councillor Bird restated that the decision to move the museum was made, and that 'it would have been easier' to close it outright, instead of finding a new location.

Councillor Bird said: "As I have said before, it would have been easier to say in the budget process that we will close the leather museum. 

"But we didn't do that; we decided to relocate it. Let's make this clear, this is not the closure, it is a relocation, that's where this cabinet stands, and the law is clear."

Following the meeting, Ms Broxton said that it was 'disappointing' to see that 'democracy in Walsall does not exist', saying that the decision to move the museum was 'made behind closed doors'.

She said: "It's disappointing to see that democracy in Walsall does not exist and that our elected representatives cannot come together to challenge this council.

"This decision was made behind closed doors without the relevant information, and we will continue pushing until that information is released. 

"This sets a precedent for how other decisions are made here in this town."