Walsall Leather Museum could well move to a new location, the council are looking at options. We chat to people about that possibility.
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00:00Hello sir, what's your name? John. Are you Warsaw resident John? Yes. Cool, so we're here today, we're just asking some questions about the council's proposed movement of the leather museum which we've got behind you.
00:13I guess first off I would ask, are you aware of the links between Warsaw and the leather industry? Oh yes.
00:20Do you think it's important we've got this leather museum? Yes, it's a reminder of the past and how strong leather was in this town.
00:30Have you ever been in the leather museum? Yes I have. When was the last time, a while ago? It was a while ago, I took my grandchildren.
00:39Oh cool, so you're passing on that knowledge to the next generation then? Yes.
00:44So what are your thoughts, if it was to move, obviously it's in a historical building at the minute, what would be your concerns if Warsaw council said they were moving it? Or would you not have any concerns?
00:58Well, obviously it could be a museum anywhere, but the buildings are about the same age as the height of the industry. And they put things into context.
01:13So you think it links in with that whole story and so on. So what did your grandchildren make of it, did they find it interesting?
01:23Yes they did at the time. So you'd like to see, in an ideal world, you'd like to see it stay where it is then would you? Most probably yes.
01:33If it was going to be moved, any ideas as to where might be a cracking spot or a suitable spot?
01:39Somewhere with a similar kind of age to this building behind me. Yeah, to reflect that story and that heritage.
01:48So Valerie, how are you? I'm absolutely fine, thank you. So you're a Warsaw girl? I am, for many many years.
01:55So I'm going to ask you a question, have you ever been in the Leather Museum? I have, on several occasions.
02:01Okay, just for events or exhibitions? Yes, occasionally exhibitions, but it's always my go-to when I'm after special presents for people to buy a bit of Warsaw leather.
02:14Fantastic, so you're fully aware of the history of Warsaw and the leather trade? Absolutely, absolutely.
02:19So the council are talking about potentially moving this museum, so currently it's situated in a rather historic building.
02:27Who knows where it could end up, they haven't said when, where, if. What's your thoughts on it being moved potentially?
02:36Well, what does a museum represent? I mean, the building is part of the museum, if you take that away.
02:49So you see an integral part of the experience and the history is having it in that hall? Absolutely, I would say it's the key point.
02:58Okay, so that's important to you. Why do we need a Leather Museum? I'm going to be devil's advocate, let's just get rid of it and save a load of money.
03:07We're in Warsaw, we've got to have a Leather Museum. It's something we're very very famous for, you can't get rid of a Leather Museum in Warsaw, absolutely not.
03:15So do you feel having that history, it forms part of that pride of the area? Absolutely.
03:22Well I hope so, certainly in my era, I hope that's maintained because it's something that Warsaw should be very proud of, you know, it's Leather history.
03:30So if Warsaw council said, oh well we're going to move it right into the centre of the town, there'll be loads of people walking by and that, you would still say, well I like it where it is please?
03:41I don't think that would make any difference to the actual people that attend, I think people specifically go out to the Leather Museum, don't go to the Saddlers to go into the museum, no I don't think that would.
03:52But as you say, it's the whole aspect, I think that would be very sad to take into, the modern Saddlers know, it's very sad.
04:01So your view is, you like it where it is, thank you very much. Absolutely, keep the old buildings, they can't be replaced.
04:08Who have we got ladies, introduce yourselves. My name's Kerry, my name's Millie. Kerry and Millie, so are you Warsaw girls? Yes.
04:15Are you aware of the links with Warsaw and the Leather industry? Yeah I am, yeah.
04:20Have you ever been into Warsaw Leather Museum? No, yes.
04:24So you've been in there, so what capacity have you been in there Millie?
04:28I used to come with my mum and my nan and my sister and my cousin in the school holidays when we were kids, with all the free activities that they used to provide during the school holidays.
04:38So happy memories? Yes, very happy memories.
04:41So, how come you haven't been in? I don't know. Putting you on the spot. No, I don't know.
04:47Can I get in the video please? No, you can wave.
04:51Probably because I've never had any children, maybe. Yeah, could be.
04:55So, I mean, just because you haven't been in there, it doesn't mean that you don't potentially think that it's very worthy of being here and important to have it.
05:03What are your thoughts? If I was to say to you, we don't need the Leather Museum do we? We can get shot of it.
05:09My nephew went in there before Christmas with school and he's out, and I went on a day trip to the Leather Museum, so I think it's good for the leather children.
05:16I think we need it, definitely. Yeah? Yeah.
05:19Why is it important then? Because it's part of the local history, and I just don't think it can be erased.
05:25It's a great museum, and I just think it needs to stay where it is.
05:29So, well, that's the question. So, the council are talking about potentially moving it. Now, obviously, it is in a historic building at the minute.
05:35What are your thoughts on it being moved, potentially? Does it matter where it's situated? Does it matter that it's an old building? Could it be anywhere?
05:45I think it stays within Walsall. It stays in Walsall Bay.
05:48I think, to be fair, as far as I was aware, I thought that was part of an old leatherworks. That's why it is where it is.
05:54So, for me, I suppose it's historic preservation, and I think it should stay where it is.
06:01I think the advertising needs to be better. I mean, obviously, I've been in there loads as a kid. I knew it was there, but I haven't seen any advertisement for the place for years.
06:09So, you think that perhaps they don't push it enough, you know, about what it offers?
06:13Yeah, I think it needs to be pushed.
06:14Yeah, yeah. You'd second that as well?
06:16Who've we got, ladies? Introduce yourselves.
06:18My name's Kerry.
06:19Yeah.
06:20My name's Millie.
06:21So, we've Kerry and Millie.
06:22So, are you Walsall Girls?
06:23Yeah.
06:24Are you aware of the links with Walsall and the leather industry?
06:27Yeah, I am.
06:28Have you ever been into Walsall Leather Museum?
06:31Yeah.
06:32So, you've been in there. So, what capacity have you been in there, Millie?
06:36I used to come with my mum and my nan and my sister and my cousin in the school holidays.
06:41I think it's a new building with all the free activities that they used to provide during the school holidays.
06:46So, happy memories?
06:47Yes, very happy memories.
06:48Well, that's it. Normally, if somebody's moved to the high street, you might say, I was going to get back to football, but I guess, at the minute, there's probably more football as much as you could.
06:56Yeah.
06:57Move away from it.
06:59Yeah.
07:00Yeah, could be. Yeah, yeah, could be.
07:03So, I mean, just because you haven't been in there,
07:05it doesn't mean that you don't potentially think that it's very worthy of being here and important to have it.
07:11What are your thoughts?
07:12If I was to say to you, we don't need the leather museum, do we? We can get shot of it.
07:16My nephew went in there before Christmas with school and he's eight.
07:19Yeah.
07:20And I went on a day trip to the leather museum, so I think it's good for the local children.
07:24Yeah.
07:25I think we need it, definitely.
07:26Yeah?
07:27Yeah.
07:28Why is it important then?
07:29Because it's part of the local history and I just don't think it can be erased.
07:33It's a great museum.
07:34Yeah.
07:35And I just think it needs to stay where it is.
07:37So, well, that's the question.
07:38So, the council are talking about potentially moving it.
07:40Now, obviously, it is in a historic building at the minute.
07:43What are your thoughts on it being moved, potentially?
07:47Does it matter where it's situated?
07:49Does it matter that it's an old building?
07:51Could it be anywhere?
07:52I think it stays within Walsall.
07:55Yeah.
07:56It stays in Walsall Bay.
07:57I think, to be fair, as far as I was aware, I thought that was part of an old leatherworks.
08:01That's why it is where it is.
08:02Yeah.
08:03So, for me, I suppose historic preservation and I think it should stay where it is.
08:09But I think the advertising needs to be better.
08:11I mean, obviously, I've been in there loads as a kid.
08:13I knew it was there.
08:14But I haven't seen any advertisements of the place for years.
08:18So, you think that perhaps they don't push it enough?
08:20Yeah, I think it needs to be pushed.
08:22Yeah, yeah.
08:23You'd second that as well?
08:24Yeah.
08:25I haven't seen anything through my door.
08:27No?
08:28Yeah.
08:29If I said, well, OK, cancel.
08:31We're moving it and we're going to move it into a modern building on the high street
08:36or, you know, potentially a shopping centre or something, you'd think it's losing something,
08:41would you think, from moving from this spot and this old building here?
08:44Yeah, I think so.
08:45Because it is what it is, isn't it?
08:49And I think if it's in a new building, I think it'd lose some of its charm.
08:52Yeah.
08:53Yeah.
08:54Personally.
08:55Because if it moves to the high street, there's no offence to the high street.
08:56It's kind of dying.
08:57Well, that's it.
08:58If it moves to the high street, you might say, oh, it's going to get loads of footfall.
09:01But I guess, at the minute, there's probably more footfall.
09:04Well, maybe that's why they want to move it to the high street, to bring the footfall back to the high street.
09:08Maybe.
09:09Because I think, like you say, it is dying, the high street, unfortunately.
09:12Well, thank you for your thoughts, ladies.
09:14OK.