Major West Midlands attraction will announce new location after closure plans sparked backlash
The major museum in the West Midlands is gearing up to announce its new location 'within weeks', promising exciting changes for its visitors.
Walsall’s council leader Mike Bird shared that a -new location for the town’s historic leather museum is set to be announced within the next ‘six to eight weeks’.
This is a significant development following news that the current site for the Walsall Leather Museum is set to be sold by the council to make way for new student accommodation that will be dedicated to SEND students.
This is a move that has prompted wide-spread backlash by the local community.
Many have opposed these plans, as the existing building located on Littleton Street West has been open since 1988.
There’s a petition called ‘Stop the Closure of Walsall Leather Museum’ on change.org, and there are 3377 signatures since the time of writing.
One signee, named Steve from Wolverhampton, shared his opposition to the closure of the current site. He wrote, ‘My family were involved in the Walsall leather industry for many years.
“ I have very clear memories of visiting my Great Grandads factory in the 1960's. The museum is in an old leather factory and has the authentic "feel" to it which reminds me so much of my childhood memories. The building itself is an exhibit, to house the museum anywhere else would completely devalue its purpose and would be a massive loss to the people of Walsall.’
The petition has been organised by leather designer Lauren Broxton who has been campaigning to save the local museum.
There is no specific date for the Walsall Leather Museum's closing, and it is still open to the public for visits.