Council defends decision over Hoard

CLAIMS Walsall Council has "no interest" in bringing the Staffordshire Hoard to the borough have been dismissed by authority chiefs.

Criticism was poured upon the council by former Mayor Richard Worrall last week for its "failure" to bring the trove of Anglo-Saxon treasure, which was discovered near Brownhills, to Walsall.

A statement released by Walsall Council said the borough did not have the required qualifications or expertise to house any of the treasure.

Councillor Mike Bird said: "It has been suggested Walsall Council and The New Art Gallery in Walsall have 'no interest' in the Hoard, as they have not come forward to suggest it be housed in the borough.

"To suggest The New Art Gallery as a home is irresponsible and misleading to members of the public, however, as the gallery does not have the required archaeological knowledge, skills and equipment to acquire, preserve and interpret the Hoard.

"And Walsall's museum service is not eligible to become an acquiring partner with Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent museums, as, although the Leather Museum, community history museum and The New Art Gallery are accredited by the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council, none have an archaeological collections policy.

"I'm sure residents understand it is not simply a matter of putting items on display – staff need to have the necessary archaeological expertise to interpret and conserve the treasure."

Alongside the campaign to acquire the collection for the West Midlands, a partnership is being formed in the area which seeks to use the Hoard as the basis of a Mercian Archaeological Trail.

Walsall's museums service is working with this wider partnership of Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Lichfield and Tamworth local authorities.

Mr Bird said: "We want the Hoard seen, appreciated and enjoyed by as many people in the region as possible, but this has to be in a location that offers the environmental conditions, security and capacity to adequately house and display it."