No purpose to building
Nice to see Bob Badham trying to explain on national TV just why the Public was built. If he keeps doing that, maybe somebody in Sandwell may start to think he's making some sense.
This is an arts building costing £53 million and containing a theatre of just 330 seats and with no orchestra pit designed into it, with an outside which may look different but seems anything but high tech, is over budget, was put into administration before it opened and has no apparent purpose.
Consider also that Lichfield has recently produced the 500-seat Garrick Theatre (with 200 seat studio area), a superb venue, for just £5.5 million. The Public will not regenerate anything other than jokes about West Bromwich.
This wouldn't have been so bad had the money not been squandered in a run-down area where many people would be glad for more pressing needs to be dealt with, such as roads, an improved shopping centre for West Bromwich and some public conveniences (spend a pound in Sandwell? You can't even spend a penny!).
If Bob Badham classes the above as achievement, thanks, but I'll concentrate on being a under-achiever.
Lee Williams, Great Barr, Birmingham.
