The “Nightmare in Queen Street” rumbles on as the interminable legal action by Colchester Council over the Visual Arts Facility against past contractors will continue to June 2012 (Gazette, July 5).
Estimates of legal costs have risen to £2,115,000.
Already the builder Banner has been forced into liquidation and employees made redundant because they made the mistake of getting involved with this failed project.
Now project manager Turner and Townsend is to be sued over this structurally deficient carbuncle.
You can glimpse the hideous hard landscaping in front of the Vaf by peering through the security fence at the back of the Minories.
Attractive trees in the garden of 15 Queen Street were destroyed to create a sterile, windswept concrete area.
On aesthetic grounds, keeping the 6ft security fencing after opening the Vaf would conceal this architectural monstrosity blocking up the bus park.
The Vaf will be a financial black hole because Colchester Council refuses to renegotiate the onerous Arts Council conditions.
About £1million a year of public money will be needed just to keep the doors open, let alone the inevitable expensive maintenance.
The Audit Commission’s refusal to take action means Colchester Council is free to continue wasting our money.
Colchester Council forced the Vaf on us and hid the reality with misinformation and secrecy. Let the councillors who wanted the Vaf so badly pay for it personally.
Andy Hamilton
Acland Avenue
Colchester
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