Walsall Council confirms proposal for relocation of Walsall Leather Museum in 2025/26 budget
Walsall Council has confirmed that it is exploring proposals around relocating the town's leather museum to a more central setting.
Walsall Council’s draft 2025/26 budget includes a proposal to relocate Walsall Leather Museum from its current Littleton Street West site to a more central location.
Councillor Gary Flint, portfolio holder for Health and Wellbeing at Walsall Council, said, “Our ambition is to showcase our rich industrial heritage in Walsall in the heart of our town centre.
“To ensure the long-term sustainability of the museum we need to attract more visitors.
"We are exploring a proposal to relocate the Leather Museum from its current site to a more central town centre location, making it more accessible to both residents and visitors alike and integrated more effectively into the town's cultural and economic fabric.
“We are working on the vision for a new, inclusive, and progressive museum that can better serve the diverse needs of our community.
"The proposed relocation is part of a broader strategy to create a dynamic cultural hub that supports local businesses, fosters community engagement, and contributes to the overall regeneration of Walsall.
“Any relocation plan will include provisions to preserve and showcase the museum's collection effectively and ensure our heritage is celebrated in a space that reflects its importance to our community.
"The final decision will reflect the best interests of our community, and the goal is to enhance, not diminish, the museum's role in celebrating Walsall's heritage.”
The planned relocation of the Leather Museum has not been without controversy, with a petition having been launched by supporters of the museum to ask for the public to voice their support for the museum, which it described as the last heritage asset that the town possessed.
Walsall Council said the feedback from the recent 2025/26 consultation is under consideration and the final budget will be presented to Cabinet on Wednesday, February 12, before Full Council considers and approves the budget on Wednesday, February 26.
