Council scraps plan to move Walsall Leather Museum after protests. Museum future unclear amid budget cuts.
The Leather Museum won’t move anymore. The council took the idea out of the budget. They wanted to save money by moving it; the planned move would have saved £190,000.
The council needs to save £28.9 million. Rising costs for adult and children services make it hard, and the museum move raised some eyebrows. People actually protested.
Running the museum costs £300,000 each year. It’s Walsall’s biggest attraction, but its future remains unclear. Someone asked if they sold it; they also asked about marketing costs.
The council spent £75,000 promoting the museum during 2024 and 2025. A councillor said the museum wasn’t sold.
They plan to rethink what the museum offers and will talk with Walsall locals about it. The new plan aims to celebrate Walsall’s heritage more, and it might grow beyond just leather.
The council will explore different options, said Perry. They want to change the museum’s operating style too. He looks forward to meeting with protestors soon.