Birmingham Mail: Outcry over '£54m white elephant'

By Steve Johnson

Protesters call Public arts centre a waste of money

A CONTROVERSIAL £54 million arts centre in West Bromwich was today branded a "grotesque white elephant" and a sickening example of waste and mismanagement.

The fierce attack came as the national TaxPayers Alliance launched its new West Midlands branch outside The Public arts centre with a 55 ft poster truck carrying a slogan attacking wasteful spending.

Alliance supporters were also out on the streets of the town collecting thousands of signatures for a petition to present to Sandwell Council, calling for no more money to be spent on the "failing" project.

The TaxPayers Alliance, which is not linked to any political party, said that The Public was an outstanding symbol of waste and most people in the area would have preferred a swimming pool for the town.

TPA Campaign Director Blair Gibbs said the group felt The Public was a giant symbol of unnecessary spending.

"The Public is a grotesque example of Government waste and we could not have a better backdrop for today's launch of the West Midlands branch of the TPA.

"The Public has cost at least£54 million so far, the cost continues to rise, and we question just how many people will have to visit it to make it a success when it finally opens," he said.

Fiona McEvoy, West Midlands Agent with the TPA, added: "The Public stands as a physical monument to an obscene waste of money by local government and regional quangos.

"The Public is at least two years behind schedule, and is well over the original budget. It is a giant, grotesque white elephant.

"We are collecting signatures on a protest petition today but people in West Bromwich we have already spoken to have already complained to us about The Public being outrageously expensive. They would rather have had a new swimming centre in West Bromwich."

Work on The Public ground to a halt in 2006 when administrators were called in. Building work resumed earlier this year and the centre is due to finally open next summer.

The project is funded by Sandwell Council, Arts Council England, Advantage West Midlands and the Government Office for the West Midlands.