Readers of this blog know I've never
loved the Public Arts centre, but I do find it amusing that our local
MP is quoted as saying, There’s a lot to do in West Bromwich and
he would try to help
secure the future of the Public arts centre, then while he's on “Walk
about” in OZ his Labour colleagues close it.
I feel the Public was the wrong
building in the wrong place, our borough had and still has a much
more important list of priorities to be tackled, Education, Housing
and health before an Arts building was pursued.
Only now, 12 years after Labour closed
the 2 public baths (the GALA) are they now in the process of
replacing it on a much smaller scale.
People quote the Public's cost at
£75Million but I feel its much higher than that, consider this
Where is the cost for the old bus station land?
Where is the cost for the new bus
station land ?
Then we must include the cost impact of
moving the bus station to allow the land to be used for the Public
which press reports stated severely damaged the Queens squares
trading ability and shops quickly closed, the single act of giving us
the 3rd West Bromwich Police station in 40 years shows how
good the “Development Plan” was especially now we learn the new
station has got no cells and no staff car park, with the extra
problems and cost that brings to the Police force.
The Kings 3 cinema complex was an
excellent business with queues all over the car park, but within
weeks of the new bus station work starting (2nd bus
station in 40 years) It was in the press for all the wrong reasons,
it went out of business saying lack of trade was the reason.
Sandwell Tory said
So what is the cost of this single
building? We will never now the true costs, in this staggering mess, we have land transfers, the
impact of lost businesses and lost jobs, lost commercial rents and
rates.
West Bromwich does need an arts building, but first it needs to clarify what Art means , flashing lights was good 10 years ago but any games console can reproduce a much better display than the Public's "attractions"..and recently its slowly turned into a form of community centre.
It would be good to see our Town halls come back into life, before the councils bulldozers start rolling, West Bromwich Wednesbury, Smethwick etc, would be excellent places of art and history and music, but I fear the story is not over yet and there are more tears to come as Labour turn this into the Public farce Building
West Bromwich does need an arts building, but first it needs to clarify what Art means , flashing lights was good 10 years ago but any games console can reproduce a much better display than the Public's "attractions"..and recently its slowly turned into a form of community centre.
It would be good to see our Town halls come back into life, before the councils bulldozers start rolling, West Bromwich Wednesbury, Smethwick etc, would be excellent places of art and history and music, but I fear the story is not over yet and there are more tears to come as Labour turn this into the Public farce Building
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/09/tom-watson-news-corp-murdoch
Cooper is a disgrace to the people of West Bromwich
ReplyDeletePopeslanedisident
I've walked down what was the high street God nows how much its costing for the new footpath in front of rows of empty shops,Its a total joke you then turn the corner to see that pink thing thats taken all the money. Stick a red rosette on an horses a$$e and they would vote it in
ReplyDeleteA joke council joke ideas I live in smethwick. Cooper says he wants to protect frontline services by shutting the public then his mate wants millions to spend on town halls and my son lost his job with this lot I will never vote for you again.
ReplyDeleteWeve used the public for years it a good place to go to meet my friends. Mr Cooper says hes closing our meeting place and spending the money in Wednesbury I hope he remebers this at election time and you want to remember it too
ReplyDelete