Cabinet members at Walsall Council are set to approve keeping the Leather Museum at its current location next week, marking a major turnaround for the attraction's future. Documents published yesterday have confirmed what dozens of campaigners have been calling for for nearly two years.
New Reform Administration Reverses Tory Decision
The new Reform administration at Walsall Council will approve keeping the much-loved attraction at Littleton Street West, a Grade II former Victorian leather works. The previous Conservative administration had closed the museum earlier this year in preparation to relocate it to 1-3 The Bridge in Walsall town centre, which it would share with part of the council's children's services.
The building purchased for relocation cost £768,766 including legal fees and was expected to cost £5-6 million for refurbishment. The plans first came to light in 2024 when the council defended the decision as a budget saving option. The total costs of running the museum were £288,000 per year, and moving was predicted to save the authority £190k per year, but the plan was later pulled following fierce backlash.
Timeline of Controversy
Less than a year later, the relocation was approved by the nine-member Tory cabinet. Also approved was leasing out the property to Walsall College for its SEND provision at a peppercorn rent for 125 years. The renovation of the property was expected to cost around £2.5 million of taxpayers' money, and the lease was signed just two days before the elections. The removal and storage of the museum's exhibits to date has cost taxpayers £75,833.
The then-leader Mike Bird said the plan did not 'form part of any budget savings', but the authority later claimed councillors approved the relocation plans when they voted for the 2025/26 budget. Throughout the saga, the ruling Tories were relentlessly accused of not following due process and were found to be in breach of FOI rules over the matter. Leaders continued to provide very few reasons as to why the people of Walsall should support their decision.
Campaign Promises and Next Steps
In the run-up to the local elections, Reform UK, along with Walsall Community Independents group, vowed in their campaigns to reopen the museum at Littleton Street West. On July 22, at its second meeting after coming into power, the Reform cabinet will approve the revocation of the Tory's cabinet decision, negotiate the surrender of the lease with Walsall College, and approve that the Leather Museum will remain at its current location.
