Public's 12 months of problems

Hi-tech exhibits at West Bromwich arts centre The Public still do not work - almost a year after the controversial gallery was due to open its doors to paying customers.

Next month will mark 12 months since the £63 million arts centre opened, but bosses today admitted there is still no opening date for the main gallery.

Sandwell Council has opted to forge ahead with plans to open the gallery, despite a warning from the Arts Council to look at other ideas.

After Public Gallery Ltd went into administration in February Sandwell Council assumed responsibility. The project is now being controlled by executive director for adult and community services John Garrett and libraries boss Linda Saunders who is the interim general manager.

Mr Garrett said: "We are not in a position to give an opening date at the moment.

"We are currently looking at the situation Public Gallery Ltd has left behind and how we as a council can pick up and operate the gallery element, which is clearly a new challenge for us.

"Obviously the exhibits are a big part of what The Public can offer and we need to assess how best to incorporate them in future overall plans."

Exhibits at the gallery are working, but there have been problems linking them together to enable the gallery to work as a whole.

Councillor Tony Ward, who is leader of the Conservative group at the council, said that after a year of trying to make the electronic exhibits work, the council should give up and change tack.

"The whole project goes from bad to worse.

"I think the council needs to cut its losses and rethink the whole thing."