Walsall Council accused of ‘risking heritage’ with ‘reckless’ decision

Councillor Sarah-Jane Cooper, ward member for Streetly, has criticised Walsall Council’s decision to not undertake a Heritage Impact Assessment.

The assessment is an exercise which identifies ways of mitigating any potential issues that could arise when handling heritage assets.

It is understood that a HIA is not a legal requirement, but Councillor Cooper described not doing one as ‘reckless’.

She said the HIA would protect the council should any of the collection be damaged or lost during the museum’s transfer to the new, unconfirmed, town centre location.

Councillor Cooper added that without the HIA, issues during transfer could invalidate any insurance, or even lead to the museum losing its accredited status, and therefore funding.

Walsall Council said HIAs are not ‘typically applied to’ the movement of museum collections.

The Tory councillor, who worked at the Leather Museum for 16 years, submitted a notice of motion to request that a HIA be carried out.

But it was rejected on the grounds that it ‘breached the constitution’.

She has also criticised that the decision to move the museum was made by a cabinet of nine councillors, rather than all 60 members of the authority.

Councillor Cooper said: “That decision should have been brought to full council for all 60 of us to decide.

“Because it affects every ward, not just a few people on the cabinet.

“The notice of motion wasn’t to try and overturn the cabinet’s decision, we don’t have the power to do that, it was to call on the authority to do a HIA, but they still haven’t done one.”

Councillor Cooper fears she may get suspended from the Conservative Party for speaking out against her administration.

Currently, the Tories are only hanging on to overall control by one seat, so if Councillor Cooper was to be suspended, the group would lose its majority.

She said: “They will suspend me but I don’t care because heritage is bigger than the Conservatives.

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

“We’ve got things to do with The Queen, handbags, a saddle dating back to something like the 1500s.

“Walsall is famous for leather. It’s what Walsall is. If something were to happen to any part of the collection, we could lose our accredited status and that could also mean that we lose funding.

“If we lost that, the museum would have to close. It’s completely reckless to go ahead without one.”

Walsall Council said HIAs are used to assess the impact of proposed physical changes to historic buildings and heritage sites rather than museum collections.

Major refurbishment works are planned for the existing museum building on Littleton Street West – a former leather factory from the Victoria era – before handing it to Walsall College.

Leader of the authority Councillor Mike Bird said the building has ‘no heritage at all’ on BBC WM last week.

Councillor Cooper said: “For Councillor Bird to say the building has no heritage is an insult to all the saddlers, bridle-makers, tanners, curriers, and leather craftsmen who gave our town its global reputation.

“The museum doesn’t just belong to one person, it belongs to every resident who lives in Walsall. Not the leader, not the cabinet, but every single person who lives in Walsall.

“The building is more than a backdrop , it’s an exhibit in its own right. Once it’s moved, the visitor figures will decline.

“It’s the only remaining museum in Walsall so we should pause now before it’s too late. Once heritage is displaced – it rarely returns.”

A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “The council is committed to ensuring that, when the Leather Museum collection is relocated, it will be managed, handled and transported in accordance with recognised museum sector standards.

“A Heritage Impact Assessment is a tool used to assess the impact of proposed physical changes to historic buildings, heritage sites or their settings.

“It helps evaluate how development or alteration works may affect the heritage significance of a place.

“HIAs are not designed for, nor typically applied to, the planned movement of museum collections. Instead, these are governed by well established collections care and conservation procedures.

“The museum relocation will follow these procedures, to ensure the safety and security of the collection.

“We are also working with Arts Council England to ensure the planned relocation aligns with accreditation expectations and best practice across the sector.

“However, it should be noted that the museum does not currently receive any core funding from the accreditation panel or from Arts Council England.

“Our focus is on ensuring the ongoing protection of the Leather Museum collection and securing its long term sustainability for residents and visitors.”