Floors lie idle at 'open' Public

Almost two floors of West Bromwich arts centre The Public are still empty, weeks after the building was "fully opened".

The entire second floor is nothing but a "concrete shell" according to workers at the £67 million building.

Half of the fourth floor is also lying idle with the promised "creative industries" yet to move in.

One worker at the building, who did not wish to be named, said it was "completely inappropriate" for businesses to move into.

He said: "The powers that be have made a big fuss of announcing the building is "fully open", but that couldn't be further from the truth. There is nothing at all on the second floor, it is an empty shell. The fourth floor is not much better, the "pod" offices that have been created are still empty and because of the way the building is designed you can hear everything going on throughout the building.

"It is so noisy, you would find it difficult to run a business from there."

Sue Parker, spokeswoman for The Public said: "Work hasn't yet started to transform level two as an educations centre, but it is set to begin at the end of November. The management are in ongoing discussions with businesses about taking over the pods on the fourth floor."