Another £3m for The Public
Wednesday 28th January 2009, 4:00PM GMT.
Up to £3 million of taxpayers’ money will be pumped into £63 million West Bromwich arts centre The Public – despite fears the centre’s main attraction may never open.
The Arts Council today walked away from the project, giving Sandwell Council a parting gift of £3 million and telling it to find an alternative use for the gallery – shut since the arts centre opened last June.
The decision leaves the future of about 70 workers uncertain.
From the archive: Pictures from inside The Public
Our first look inside The Public
Guru hits out at threat to The Public
The Arts Council met yesterday to consider a request for additional funding for the Public Gallery Ltd, which runs the interactive gallery, and The Public itself but refused to back the new business plans.
Sir Christopher Frayling, chair of Arts Council England, said: “At every stage, we have worked with our partners and carefully weighed the level of risk involved against the potential public benefit.
“But the fact is that, although the building is open, the interactive art gallery at the centre of the vision for The Public is not.
“We have done everything we can but there comes a point where we have to make a difficult judgement – and regretfully, that moment is now.”
The Arts Council confirmed absence of an opening date for the gallery led to their decision and said the amount of cash being demanded was too much.
The Arts Council has already paid £30 million towards the construction of The Public and £1.5 million towards running costs for the first three years.
Sandwell Council’s regeneration chief Councillor Bob Badham pledged to open the gallery inside the building, saying today’s decision was a vote of confidence.
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i thought wolverhampton council were the champions of wasting taxpayers money, but well done sandwell council…you are pushing them close!!!
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“M” for Monument? More like monstrosity!!
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Bob Badham thinks this is a vote of confidence? Err…….can we have an election please?
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Obviously theres no black hole in Sandwells budget. Let them announce cut backs and peoples jobs now then, i just dare you Sandwell!!!!!!!
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My patience has long run out over this building.
I think if it had worked from the onset it would have been beneficial to West Bromwich but now it is past a joke and heads have to role for the mismanagement of the project! For them to say that ‘the main attraction may never open’ is beyond belief and I am embarresed to say that everyone who lambasted this new build where right!
The implications of what to do with the building will again come from our pockets because what ever happens it will be tax payers money that is used to either knock it down or restructure how it is used.
How is it a vote of confidence that the arts council have walked away from a failed project?
I’d make a success of it….what do people think we could use the building for?
Leisure, arts and performance centre? Similar to the liverpool institue for performing arts? take out the main attraction and have a live performance space that could be sponsored by one of the big companies…O2, Carling or 3 to name but a few…
I’m going for a lie down…..
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should never have been built anyway, more money going into something that never looks as if it will be viable. Sell it off, but who is going to want to buy it with current problems. (2) agree looks like a total monstrosity, bright purple. Not the image for West Bromwich.
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WHAT AN ABSOLUTE FOLLY THIS HAS BEEN MILLIONS OF POUNDS WASTED YET AGAIN.
THE FUTURE LOOKS BLEAK FOR THIS PLACE. ART MUST COME LAST WHEN MONEY IS TIGHT.
WHY NOT TURN IT INTO AN INDOOR ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND OR A PENSIONERS MEETING PLACE WITH CHEAP MEALS AND OTHER BENEFITS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN.
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How about making it a shelter for the homeless!!!
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I think it is time for local people to let the council know with direct action how they feel about this and protest in the strongest way possible….enough is enough this was a mistake from its inception.
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THE PUBLIC works department social club has been rebuilt.The old one was worth a grand at the most.I hope the subs have been frozen !
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We just love to waste moeny dont we?? I agree with Adam.. Who did Bob ask???? £63 million its a flaming disgrace….
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What a complete waste of time, not user friendly, you have to pay to see the really good stuff…a complete “white elephant” and waste of public money. Heads should roll.
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It just shows how pointless it is to have anything cultural or exciting in the West Midlands. Such things will never be appreciated by local people. Let’s all put up with banal mediocrity.
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The Arts Council today walked away from the project, giving Sandwell Council a parting gift of £3 million and telling it to find an alternative use for the gallery.
“Sandwell Council’s regeneration chief Councillor Bob Badham pledged to open the gallery inside the building, saying today’s decision was a vote of confidence”!!!!!!!!
Well Bob, I would hate to hear what they would have said if they really, really thought this was a total fiasco and that is was £63 million of taxpayer’s hard earned money down the drain.
Bob a little saying you should remember.
“Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt”
And will there be a public disclosure to inform us all how much this has all cost, and who has made money out of this????
And also WHY were so many meeting related to this held behind closed doors?
Jim of Bearwood
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Dont you dare say you have no money sandwell. Dont you dare say there will be cut backs of any kind at the council when you have this kind of money to burn on rubbish!!!!!!!!
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The Art’s Council walk away, vote of confidence!!!
Mr.Badham, you should be thoroughly ashamed, a more decent person would resign.
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Wotcha.
“We have done everything we can but there comes a point where we have to make a difficult judgement – and regretfully, that moment is now.”
or, in real terms.
“We refuse to throw good money after bad”
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70 workers! In a building that is not open, or even set to open anytime soon! Are they mad.
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There are so many things this money could have been used for. Remember the council could not afford to keep the Gala baths open. Obviously car parks are more profitable.
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WHATS THE POINT,3 mil now then in two years time the good folk of sandHELL will have to dig deep again and bail out this white elephant,sack the lot and sell to ikea.
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as a taxpayer, do i have a say where my money goes? i’d rather my money not go to an arts centre that is a drain on money and soul and cost an obscene amount of money or indeed to top up council pensions. can the council not utilise our money to put more bobbies on the beat or to reinvigorate town centres or youth centres… or something that will actually make a difference to the people who live in this community and who contribute personally and financially to it?
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what planet does bob badham come from cant he see that the public is never going to make any money why dont he and the council cut and run while they have got the chance sureley they must have a slight bit of integrity and own up to the folly that the public and always will be a black hole just swallowing taxpayers money i can just see in a few months the excuses for putting council taxes up i believe we have aright to know how much this has cost each taxpayer
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I have been watching this from all the way across the pond – disgraceful, remember this at election time , way things are going over there and over here try opening it as a soup kitchen, have the ones who lost all the money be the first in line handing out the soup -NO SOUP FOR YOU !!
Wake up West Midlands !!
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The Public is a great Idea..
But why does the word Toilet spring to mind…
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We are members of the local community in West Bromwich area.
We are organising a campaign so that the public in West Bromwich can voice their opinion on the changes that need to be made to The Public which would be in the interest of the community not the council.
If you would be interested in joining our campaign please contact changethepublic@hotmail.co.uk
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Just had a look at the pictures of inside this monstrosity. What a pile of crapola. Wheres the art then ,or is that i? Modern day talentless make it up as you go along. Stick some paint on my kids feet now thats art!!!!!!!! What a waste of our money sandwell leaders should be ashamed of what they have allowed our money to be spent on!!!
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One major change I can think of Natalie is that it should be pulled down and some thing more useful built in its place, a waste of money i know, such a shame sandwell needs money spent in other areas instead. The architect who designed it should also be sacked and go back to university and learn how to design tasteful buildings!!!!
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