Protestors to gather this weekend to save Walsall Leather Museum
A protest is to be held this weekend against ‘the sale and closure’ of Walsall Leather Museum. Supporters have been invited to meet in the town centre on Saturday January 8 to show their support for Walsall’s main attraction.
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Walsall Council announced its proposal to relocate the leather museum from its current site on Littleton Street West to another council-owned property in the town centre. The move was announced as a cost saving measure as the council tries to save £28.9million within the 2025/26 budget.
No information has been provided about the whereabouts of the proposed new location. Information on the future of the existing museum building remains commercially sensitive.
The final budget will be presented to cabinet next week on Wednesday (February 12). It will then be brought before full council on February 26 for it to be considered and approved.
Organiser behind the protest is Lauren Broxton, a fashion designer specialising in bespoke leather goods. The 34-year-old feels the council’s plans are too vague and the lack of transparency is a cause for concern.
She said: “The leather museum is currently in an old leather factory, if it’s moving out of there then it is closing. The fact that the council is not being very transparent about the plans, how can people consent to a move when they don’t know where it’s going to be, where the collection is going?
“The museum is very unique to Walsall and we believe it deserves to be celebrated in an appropriate location, like a former leather factory. There’s nothing wrong with the current set up of the museum. It should be celebrated as a landmark of our time.
“We believe it’s essential that the Walsall museum is kept in its historic location with the collections cared for appropriately. Not split up and put into storage.
“Please, if you can, show your support. Leather is so much a part of Walsall. Most of our predecessors would have worked in the trade. It’s going to be a nice, peaceful day. Everyone is welcome and there’ll be loads of creatives from the leather community. Lets show pride in protecting our heritage in the appropriate location.”
Protesters will meet midday on Saturday February 8 at the Sister Dora statue outside Lloyds Bank. From there the procession will walk through the town and up to Walsall Leather Museum on Littleton Street West.
