Calls to defer Leather Museum relocation until after local elections

Five councillors in Walsall have called for an extraordinary meeting to pause the relocation of the Leather Museum.

Councillors Sarah-Jane Cooper, Nick Gandham, Waheed Rasab, Bobby Bains and Suky Samra, believe any matters regarding the proposal should be deferred until after the local elections. 

Back in September, nine members of Walsall Council’s cabinet approved a plan to close Walsall Leather Museum at its current location at Littleton Street West, and lease the building to Walsall College for its SEN provision. 

The council then purchased a property at 1-3 The Bridge in the town centre at a cost of £725,000 to be used as a museum and for the authority’s children’s services. 

The museum at Littleton Street West finally closed its doors to the public on April 11. 

Councillor Samra was on the cabinet when the plans were approved, but is now calling for a halt to them.

At the last council meeting, he launched a scathing attack on the leader of the council, Councillor Mike Bird, and deputy, Councillor Adrian Andrew, for running the town ‘with an iron fist’. 

The five councillors, none of whom are standing in the upcoming local elections, have called the extraordinary meeting to debate whether any irreversible actions relating to the relocation should be postponed until after May 7. 

In their request they said the matter should be reconsidered by the newly elected council.

The Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Louise Harrison, now has until Friday, April 24, to decide whether or not to call the extraordinary meeting. 

In a joint statement the councillors said: “Calling this meeting is about democracy, honesty and respect. You don’t push through irreversible cultural decisions without bringing them to full council for all 60 members to decide.

“The Leather Museum tells the story of Walsall–our craft , our labour, our pride. That story, inclusive of the building, does not belong to a potentially departing administration, it belongs to the people of Walsall.

“This is not a delay for delay’s sake. It is a line being drawn. Major decisions should be made by full council–not rushed through in the dark. Our message is simple, let the people speak and let the next council decide.”

As reported by the LDRS, five out of seven political groups standing in the upcoming elections said they oppose the relocation plans. 

With the local elections round the corner, bold promises have been made from several parties about keeping the museum where it is. 

Until now, only a handful of the 60 existing councillors have raised concerns about the plan. 

Walsall Council has been approached for comment.