Locals are protesting Walsall Council plans to relocate the Leather Museum to save money, citing concerns about its future and collection.
Hey, listen to this news from Walsall! People will protest the Walsall Leather Museum plans. The protest happens this weekend, on Saturday, February 8. Folks meet downtown to support the main attraction.
Walsall Council wants to move the museum. They plan to relocate it from Littleton Street West. The council wants to save money by 2025/26. They need to save about £28.9 million.
We don’t know where the museum might move. Information on the current building is confidential. The council will look at the budget next week. The full council votes on February 26.
Lauren Broxton, a designer who creates custom leather goods, is organizing the protest. She thinks the plans are unclear and worries about the lack of information.
Lauren feels moving is like closing the museum. It is now in a real factory. She asks, how can people agree when the new site is secret and the collection’s fate is unknown?
The museum is special to Walsall. It should stay in a fitting place, like a factory. She says the current location is fine, and the museum should be a landmark.
The museum needs to stay where it is so they can care for the items properly. Items should not be split or stored, she adds.
Show your support if you can, she urges. Leather is a big part of Walsall’s past. Many locals worked in the leather trade.
The peaceful event is open to everyone. Lots of leather artists will attend, showing pride in Walsall’s history and advocating for its protection in the proper spot.
The protest starts at noon by the Sister Dora statue, found outside Lloyds Bank. They will walk to the Leather Museum on Littleton Street West.
