The forecasted cost to renovate the Grade II-listed building for the college is around £2.5million
Walsall Leather Museum on Littleton Street West and Walsall and Bloxwich MP, Valerie Vaz
‘Not value for money’ is how the MP for Walsall and Bloxwich has described plans to move the Leather Museum.
Valerie Vaz also claimed the decision to relocate the museum to 1-3 The Bridge showed the council ‘has no pride in Walsall’.
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In October 2025, the authority approved plans to close the museum at its current location on Littleton Street West and move it to another town centre building. The last day of operation is this Saturday.
The authority also approved a 125-year peppercorn rent lease of the former Leather factory building to Walsall College for its SEND offering, currently based at Hawbush Road.
At the time, the predicted cost to taxpayers to renovate the Grade II-listed building for the college stood at around £2.5million.
The purchase of 1-3 The Bridge, a former drapers store which is expected to be shared with part of the council’s children’s services department, cost taxpayers £725,000.
Council figures state the total cost of running the museum at it’s existing location is £288,000 per year.
Valerie Vaz said: “The costs to refurbish the Leather Museum as an SEND facility as agreed by the cabinet in October, is £2.415 million.
“It costs £300,000 for the running of the museum. This does not represent value for money.”
Vaz has written to the chief executive of Walsall Council, Emma Bennett, asking for clarification around the unknown costs for the project.
She said: “I have written to the chief executive to ask for the financial details of these transactions including the projected costs for refurbishing 1-3 The Bridge; the costs for moving the artefacts from the Leather Museum and storage; and which public body is responsible for the payments required to complete this project.
“Walsall College has now accepted that converting the Leather Museum to a SEND provision is a ‘Novel, Contentious and Repercussive (NCR) transaction’ which needs a minister’s approval.
“The college has referred the transaction to the minister having first indicated it was not an NCR transaction.
“The council are to play a role in the Government’s Pride in Place but the indifference to the Leather Museum shows they have no pride in Walsall.
“I was delighted to receive confirmation from Historic England, following my referral on 11 November 2025, that the Leather Museum on Littleton Street West was awarded Grade II listed status.
“This is a victory for everyone who wants to preserve the Heritage of Walsall.”
A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “Relocating the museum to 1-3 The Bridge will provide a more central, accessible location between the High Street and the Walsall Leather Skills Centre.
“This move creates opportunities to increase footfall, enhance the visitor offer, and improve access and visibility, delivering value for money while showcasing both the borough’s heritage and its modern industry through an engaging visitor experience.
“The museum’s current site has limited accessibility and visitor numbers have not regained pre pandemic levels which is why relocation remains the preferred long‑term option. The recent Grade II listing of the Littleton Street West building does not alter these plans.
“The projected costs for refurbishing 1-3 The Bridge are still being developed, and work is underway to shape the new museum offer.
“The costs for moving and storing the museum’s collections and storage are currently estimated at £75,000 to £80,000, though this figure is still being finalised.
“During the transition period, all collections will be stored safely and securely. Their removal and storage will be managed by a specialist project manager and carried out in line with recognised best-practice standards.
“Walsall Leather Museum will continue to play an important role in the borough’s future, and we are keen to hear from anyone with ideas to help shape the next chapter for the museum.
“The council is working with partners to secure external funding wherever possible to support the development of the new museum.”