As the local elections approach in Walsall, all seven political parties have declared their positions on the contentious plan to relocate the Leather Museum. The proposal, originally introduced by former council leader Garry Perry as a budget-saving measure, has sparked significant community debate and divided opinions among local representatives.
The Leather Museum, a valued cultural and historical asset situated at Littleton Street West, currently costs the council £288,000 annually to operate. The relocation was intended to save approximately £190,000 per year by moving the museum to 1-3 The Bridge in the town centre — a venue previously purchased by taxpayers for £725,000. However, costs related to refurbishing the new site remain undisclosed, while expenses for renovating the current Grade II-listed building and relocating the collection are estimated at around £2.5 million and up to £80,000 respectively.
In September 2025, the council approved leasing the existing museum space to Walsall College for its Special Educational Needs provision. The plan entails dedicating the majority of the new site’s ground floor to leather exhibits, with the upper floors allocated for children’s services. Despite strong criticism from local residents, heritage experts, and public figures like BBC Repair Shop’s Suzie Fletcher, only a few of the 60 sitting councillors have openly voiced opposition.
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The political parties’ positions are as follows:
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Advance UK: Opposes any relocation that diminishes Walsall’s heritage or weakens the town centre, rejecting cost-cutting at the expense of cultural value.
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Conservatives: Support the relocation and pledge to complete it promptly, emphasizing a multifunctional museum facility.
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Green Party: Actively supports the campaign to save the museum in its current location, condemning the move as a community-imposed cost-cutting measure ignoring public opposition.
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Labour: Recognizes the museum’s importance to local identity and vows to protect its legacy while enhancing cultural offerings to boost visitor numbers.
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Liberal Democrats: Oppose the relocation due to heritage damage concerns and insufficient consultation with the community.
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Reform UK: Strongly against the move, calling for a thorough review of council property deals, legal and financial scrutiny, and proper marketing efforts to revive the museum as a tourist attraction at its original site.
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Walsall Community Independents: Committed to exploring options to halt the relocation, advocating for council-wide votes on heritage asset changes to empower borough representatives.
Polling stations will be open on May 7 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., allowing voters to elect three local ward candidates. Changes to polling stations and ward boundaries following a Local Government Boundary Commission review mean residents are advised to verify their polling cards carefully before heading to the polls.