PM rejects inquiry into The Public
The Prime Minister defended controversial Black Country arts centre The Public and rejected an inquiry into using £66 million of taxpayers' money on it.
A petition signed by 244 people on the number10.gov.uk website called on Gordon Brown to launch a public inquiry "into every aspect of The Public Arts Centre project".
The West Bromwich centre opened in June last year but its centrepiece gallery has never taken a paying customer. It has since been taken over by Sandwell Leisure Trust.
Since Alan Nugent created the petition, closed on April 3, the cost rose to £66 million with a £3 million Arts Council grant.
Responding to the petition the Prime Minister's office said: "There are no plans to hold a public inquiry into the building and funding of The Public.
"The building remains open to the public, although unfortunately the gallery remains closed at the present time."
Fiona McEvoy of the Taxpayers' Alliance, who signed the petition, said: "This is a hugely disappointing response to a disaster that has drawn national attention and this defence leaves Sandwell residents with little hope of any investigation in to how and why millions of pounds have been wasted."
