'We could have easily just closed it completely - but we didn't': Walsall Council leader responds over Leather Museum row

Councillor Mike Bird, the leader of Walsall Council, has responded to criticism following Tuesday's scrutiny committee.

The meeting included recommendations to the committee by campaigners over the future of the Walsall Leather Museum, with the campaigners being opposed to the move of the venue to a new location in the town centre.

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During the meeting, lead campaigner Lauren Broxton called for the council to immediately halt the plans, hold a full, open public consultation, publish a full timeline and reasoning behind the process, and commit to transparency and accountability in future dealings involving community assets. 

However, any attempt at a recommendation to the cabinet was quickly brushed off, with the committee instead suggesting the plans should be brought to future scrutiny committee meetings, and the process continues. 

Now, Councillor Bird has responded to criticism from campaigners, saying that the current location for the museum 'just isn't right', and that 'it wouldn't have been a hard decision' to close the venue outright. 

Talking to the Express & Star, he said: "The case is clear on this, the judge ruled on it, cabinet in this circumstance is the ultimate arbiter, the leather museum is moving, full stop.

"If we were closing it, I could understand their frustration, but we are simply moving it. 

"We have to work with the small resources that we have. Garry Perry looked at this before, and it was the same then. We are trying to bring footfall into the town centre, and the location of the leather museum just isn't right."

The leader said that the new location would be 'only a short walk' from the town's bus station, and would give them a chance to make a 'Walsall heritage centre'.

He added: "If we brought it into the town, in the location that we have identified, it could very well be a true heritage centre for Walsall. 

"It would actually complement what people are trying to achieve. This could be a morning out for people; it would show the true heritage of Walsall."

Councillor Bird revealed that a location for the new site of the Leather Museum had already been accepted; however, he refused to reveal the location due to the 'legal process'.

Councillor Bird said: "It wouldn't have been a hard decision to close it permanently at all, but we didn't want to do that; we wanted to keep it for the people. 

"At the moment, it's most likely the worst location for it; it's not very easy to get to at all, and if we don't use it, we will lose it."

The campaigners said that the significance of the museum doesn't only lie in its exhibits, but also in the fact that it is housed inside an original leather factory building. 

However, Councillor Bird didn't agree that this was a significant reason. 

He said: "They keep saying that the museum is inside an original factory, but so what?

"In the new location, we will replicate that feeling in a new building that is better suited for the town and its visitors. People just don't see the vision."

Councillor Bird refused to reveal the location of the new building, citing that it is 'still going through the legal process'.