Skidder Shorts No 10 - Sandwell Culture-Free Zone

When the laughable Labour "leader" of Sandwell Council ("SMBC") , The Turdfinder General himself, was shafting The Public he infamously stated that Sandwell had "loads" of other galleries anyway! I wonder what he meant by this? Here is the information of the pathetic service offered - taken from the SMBC website.

The only facility listed as a "gallery" is Wednesbury Museum & Art Gallery which between Apr-Sept is open a massive 9 hours per week (wow!). This is reduced to 4 hours per week Oct-Nov and it is closed altogether Dec-Mar!

The other facilities on the website are not galleries nor community spaces like The Public but museums/heritage sites and they are rarely open either.

The best option is Haden Hill House which manages a massive 18 hours per week of opening Apr-Sept but this goes down to, er, 4 hours per week Oct-Nov and, again, it is closed altogether Dec-Mar. The associated Haden Old Hall is only open for special events and open days.

The other "jewel in the crown", Oak House, is also only open 9 hours per week Apr-Sept and reduces to a meagre 4 hours per week Oct-Nov. Yet again, the good folk of Sandwell (and beyond) are deprived of any service at all over the winter months - Dec-Mar.

The Manor House Museum manages 6 hours PER MONTH Apr-mid July and 12 hours per week mid July-mid Sept.

And that is basically it folks! There is a Community Heritage display in Tipton Library plus two other sites which are only open by appointment or on special open days ie Bishop Asbury Cottage (open for a massive 6 hours on two dates this YEAR) and Galton Valley Pumping Station.

The Labour Group controlling SMBC in its iron grip are pumping multi-million pound sums each year into sport - much of it borrowed money. Besides new centres they are provided grants to sports organisations and ploughing millions by way of subsidy each year to the Leisure Trust, but they "can't afford" culture, the arts, libraries and, yes, even museums. It's all because of "government cuts" don't ya know!

THE SANDWELL SKIDDER - A COMMUNITY BLOG

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