THE Scala arts centre and theatre project has the potential to greatly benefit our city.
Moreover, the refurbishment is being done with a government grant so Worcester council taxpayers’ money is not at stake.
However, both the Worcester News and the BBC have covered the spiralling cost.
This means that the project has been scaled back, most notably in reducing the theatre from 500 to 300 seats.
At the council committee meeting, which agreed the reduced project, with two exceptions councillors fully accepted the managing director’s statement of confidence in delivering it without a detailed public report.
There has already been £4 million spent on buying the premises, moving out the existing business and architect’s fees.
Some red flags must be raised about the reduced project.
Firstly, the smaller outcome will still cost more and at the same time people may be disappointed with the result, especially regarding the theatre rather than the arts facilities.
Secondly, now that the Swan Theatre is being kept, what will the effect be on it as no detailed report has been published?
Thirdly, the city council has gained planning permission before having a fully-costed business plan to know how much running the project will cost.
This is surely the wrong way round.
The danger is that if the arts centre is not self-sustaining the council will have to take money from local services to prop it up.
We do not find these potential problems on the political parties’ websites, Facebook pages or in their leaflets to warn us and enable voters to quiz candidates in the May local election.
Francis Lankester
Worcester
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