First meeting to discuss future of Walsall Leather Museum happening ‘imminently’
A meeting over the future of the Walsall Leather Museum is expected to take place ‘imminently’, according to a Walsall Council portfolio holder.
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Councillor Gary Flint, portfolio holder for health and well being, confirmed this week that members will soon meet to discuss the future of Walsall’s top attraction.
The relocation of Walsall Leather Museum from its existing home on Littleton Street West was one of the proposals put forward by the council for the 2025/26 budget.
The council had to make savings of £28.9million as it struggled to cope with the rising costs of adult and children’s services.
The authority had proposed moving it to a more centrally-located building, already owned by the council, in a bid to save £190,000.
But the proposals sparked fierce criticism and a protest was held in the town centre against the move to a mystery location.
The operational cost of running the attraction costs the taxpayer nearly £300,000 per year.
For the 12,000 annual visitors to the museum which is free entry, it costs the council £24 per head, a figure only offset by shop sales which earns around £49,000 per year.
This week, at a council meeting on April 7, councillor Michael Coulson asked: “Walsall Leather Museum made substantial losses last year and was very nearly lost forever.
“Can we have an updated plan as to how we’re going to turn around this very worrying situation?”
Councillor Flint responded: “Work is ongoing with the members who expressed an interest with us and I believe the first meeting is happening imminently.”
