Public at centre of Trust bid
A business plan looking at the future of troubled £63 million arts centre The Public could be drawn up in weeks if a charitable trust is given the green light.
Sandwell Leisure Trust has put forward proposals outlining its plans to manage the West Bromwich venue in conjunction with the council.
And the boss of the trust has today said spoken for the first time about the plans for managing the controversial venue and described it as a "fantastic opportunity".
Sandwell Leisure Trust was set up in 2004 as a charitable company and operates nine leisure centres and a golf course.
Its plans to manage the centre need formal approval by Sandwell's cabinet.
If agreed as expected later this month, they will then work on a business plan with the authority, which could net a grant of £3 million from the Arts Council.
Trust chief executive Paul Slater said: "What we've said before is we are not going to take it over. We would manage it in partnership with the council.
"We think it's a fantastic opportunity. There's such a vast amount of space there and so many opportunities to do things and I think we've got the experience of managing the facilities that people enjoy and can use in Sandwell."
He said the trust hoped to make the centre a "focus for arts and community activities" in a bid to draw in the locals.
But no detailed plans on what specific events or attractions they would like to see at the venue have been revealed.
