Controversial West Bromwich arts centre The Public has still not set an official opening date – and only one new business has moved into the enterprise space.
The website for the Public claims it will be announcing opening dates for paying customers “shortly” but has given no official date.
Critics have pointed out that only one company Major Key Studios has taken on a lease in the building which has more than 15,000 sq ft of business space to let.
Councillors have remained cagey about suggestions that the council will now pay to fit out space to attract businesses.
Following a closed meeting this week, deputy Sandwell council leader Steve Eling, said the council has not yet decided what to do to help shift the units.
He said: “We are looking at all options. These shaky economic times are not the best time to be letting out spaces in a building.”
Fifteen empty “lily pad” office spaces measuring 3,000 sqft are based on the fourth floor and have been designed to attract arts and creative industries.
5 Comments
where did that 3 million stash come from ? they would be better off selling it for scrap the price of tat these days.
White elephant comes to mind…………!!!
My Great Great uncle Alderman Reuben Farley, the first Mayor of West Brom during the 1880’s is probably turning in his grave as I write this !!!!!
Wotcha.
Never mind - I’m sure the extra three million quid will more than make up for it.
What a total waste of time, space and money, but never mind, it’s your money that’s being wasted.
If you want to see a man in denial see the interview Steve Eling gave with reference to another 3 million pound being poured down the drain, on that monstrosity know as the Public.
I cant believe that anyone could be so brass necked as to make the comment he did, when asked about having to pay another 3 million pounds of our money towards the Public, his answer was “but we actually saved Sandwell Council Taxpayers 10 million pounds, because if we hadn’t paid that 3 million pounds, we would have had to pay back 13 million pounds in penalty charges” “so by paying the 3 million pounds we actually did the Sandwell Council Taxpayers a favour” or words to that effect.
How about this angle Steve, the council taxpayers vote in people to represent their views and interests, those representatives talk to the council taxpayers and find out what they want, the council representatives say do you want an ugly black box with wonky windows, that no one will use ? then when the Tax Payers say “NO” they will save £57 million.
Sadly the age when councillors or members of parliament actually listened to the people who pay their inflated wages, has long gone.
The one thing that has changed is that we the Sandwell Council Taxpayers, are being ripped off more and more everyday.
If our councillors had one ounce of decency they would pay back all the money they have been paid, and resign, they are not doing what the electorate is paying them to do.
Jim of Bearwood
more puzzle:
any web social features?
any wifi?