'We can't take over Walsall Leather Museum due to our own pressures' - Heritage bosses give mixed response to calls to back move from 19th century workshop
The major heritage preservation trusts have given a mixed response to calls for them to block council plans to move Walsall's Leather Museum from a 19th century workshop site.
Walsall Council wants to relocate the attraction to make room for college students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and save money.
Walsall and Bloxwich MP Valerie Vaz has since written to the National Trust, Historic England and Arts Council England to ask them to intervene in moves to transfer the Littleton Street West visitor attraction which is based at a former leatherworks built in the 1800s, to Walsall College situated next door.
In response the National Trust stated: “We recognise the importance of places like the Walsall Leather Museum and work extensively with partners in Birmingham and the West Midlands. We are also aware of the financial pressures impacting the heritage sector, indeed this year we at the National Trust have undertaken our own formal consultation with staff in order to find savings, resulting in a six per cent reduction in jobs.
“Due to these pressures across the sector, we have seen an increase in requests for our support, including Valerie Vaz MP’s request regarding the Leather Museum. Last month, enabled by an endowment from the government, we announced that the National Trust would be taking on care of the Ironbridge Gorge museums from the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. This is one of the largest acquisitions in the National Trust’s history.
"We have written to her to explain that within this context we are having to be strategic about how we work with partners to respond to the pressures on our sector and in this instance, given our own financial pressures and current focus on establishing our role at Ironbridge Gorge, we will not be able to take over running or acquire the Walsall Leather Museum.”
An Arts Council England statement read: “Arts Council England has been informed of the plans to relocate Walsall Leather Museum, and that the current museum building will be used by Walsall College, as a hub for students with SEND.
“Valerie Vaz MP has been in contact with us and we have clarified that we are having conversations with Walsall Council and will continue to work with them as they explore alternative sites for the collection.
“Alongside key partners, including Museum Development Midlands, we offer tailored support and funding to all local authority, independent, trust and military museums the length and breadth of the country.
“We understand that local authorities are currently having to make tough decisions, but ensuring local investment in culture is vital, as we know it changes people’s lives for the better. We will continue to work with local authorities to support continued investment in the cultural sector.”
Walsall Council wants to dispose of the site in favour of finding new premises for it in the town centre which has led to a street protest and demonstrations against the plan.
It has insisted that there were no plans to scrap the museum and that it was committed to moving the operation elsewhere as part of efforts to balance the budget.
However, the MP has described the decision to relocate as destruction of the borough's cultural heritage.
Meanwhile a new online petition set up by campaigner Laura Broxton to retain the location has so far surpassed 2,700 signatures.
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