Campaigners Rally to Save Walsall Leather Museum Weeks Before Closure
Protesters are set to gather this weekend in a last-ditch effort to save the Walsall Leather Museum, with its doors scheduled to close to the public in less than three weeks. The demonstration, organized by lead campaigner Lauren Broxton, will take place at 1pm on Saturday, 28 March, at the Sister Dora statue in Walsall town centre.
Urgent Call for Action
Lauren Broxton, a leather fashion designer, has called for an immediate pause to the relocation plans, which she describes as being "pushed through at an alarming rate." She emphasized that industry professionals from across the country are travelling to Walsall to support the protest, highlighting the widespread concern over the museum's fate.
"We are less than three weeks away from losing the Leather Museum – one of the last true bastions of our definitive and historic leather industry," Broxton stated. "After 15 months of tireless campaigning, overwhelming outcry from community, industry, and academia, media scrutiny locally, nationally, and globally, the decision is still being pushed through at an alarming rate."
Democratic Concerns and Community Backlash
Broxton raised serious questions about the decision-making process, alleging that campaigners have been "shut down and told to shut up" despite attempts to engage through democratic channels. She pointed to unresolved issues regarding policy breaches, protocol, and meaningful community consultation.
"This is no longer merely a heritage crisis – it speaks to the wider democratic crisis that has plagued Walsall for decades," she added.
The plans, approved by Walsall Council's Cabinet, involve relocating the museum from its current site on Littleton Street West to a vacant property at 1-3 The Bridge in the town centre. The council has stated that the majority of the ground floor will be dedicated to leather exhibits, with upper floors intended for children's services.
Financial and Historical Context
The cost of the new building has been confirmed as £725,000. This figure was released the same week that Historic England listed the current Leather Museum building as Grade II, noting it as "illustrating Walsall's leather industry at its height." The historic building is earmarked for Walsall College's SEND offering, currently based at Hawbush Road.
The relocation plans have faced significant backlash from the community, local councillors, and MP Valerie Vaz. Broxton urged residents to join the protest, saying, "We now call upon our communities to stand shoulder to shoulder with us one last time to make our voices heard and call for a stop to plans that are devastating and damaging to our communities."
Council's Response
A spokesperson for Walsall Council responded, "Walsall Council recognises the important cultural and historic significance of Walsall's leather industry and understands the strength of local feeling about the museum's future." They explained that the relocation aims to secure a more accessible, central location to increase footfall, enhance visitor experience, and ensure long-term sustainability.
The council asserted that appropriate democratic and governance procedures have been followed, including Cabinet decisions, scrutiny reviews, and call-ins. They denied claims that residents or campaigners have been silenced, stating, "Assertions that residents, campaigners or partners have been 'shut down' do not reflect the open and ongoing dialogue we are committed to maintaining."
They added that consultation has occurred at relevant stages, with further community engagement planned as development of the new site progresses. The relocation is still in early stages, with work ongoing with partners, funders, and heritage bodies to create a refreshed museum offer that supports Walsall's identity and town regeneration.
