I am flabbergasted by the claims of Essex county councillor Jeremy Lucas that the people of Colchester will “finally love Firstsite” – if, of course, it is ever finished.

The vast majority of us despise the Firstsite project and what it stands for.

The former Tory administration denied Colchester people a say in the project.

As arts and culture county councillor, Jeremy Lucas endorsed the muchmaligned, beleaguered, and condemned Firstsite project. He consistently promoted Firstsite, asserting it would benefit Colchester.

He is undeniably mistaken.

Firstsite is scandalously behind schedule.

Claims it will attain projected visitor numbers and financially support the town are spurious.

Colchester will be disadvantaged for decades because of this fiasco.

The current coalition administration discovered a raft of financial irregularities left by the Tories and had to restructure spending plans, diverting money away from more deserving projects.

Regrettably I note those who imposed this ridiculous development on us from the previous Tory administration at the Town Hall are now bedfellows with Mr Lucas on the county council.

Despite the ear-piercing disapproval of Colchester people, we were forced to accept what we knew would be a white elephant.

People will not love the VAF and I will tell you why.

It is because Colchester has already been cleaned out by the cost of building and, out of all proportion, supporting Firstsite.

So, Mr Lucas, what about endorsing an acceptable development, which you seem to have more than a passing say in? The Sergeants’ Mess would be widely agreeable, but you seem to oppose the scheme.

Can you reveal the reason why you oppose it so vehemently?

Malcolm Mattack
Broom Way
Abberton

...Finally, Essex county councillor Jeremy Lucas has admitted Colchester’s Visual Arts Facility is a white elephant.

It is a pity councillors ignored the detailed and accurate warnings three years ago when plans were being finalised.

Councillors were so desperate to get their iconic status symbol, they committed the taxpayer to openended financial liabilities.

Apart from the latest estimate of £26million to finish the shell, there will be huge subsidies to the leaseholder, Firstsite, to finish and run it.

Firstsite is guaranteed the lease, under Arts Council requirements, even though it lacks the skills required to manage this complex project.

There will be no entrance fee to the VAF and Firstsite insists Colchester Council cover all losses.

Colchester Council agreed to cover all cost overruns on building the VAF. Even worse, the secret engineering reports clearly reveal the structurally deficient building is impossible to build as designed.

The roof is subsiding because of inadequate computer modelling of the steelwork.

Also it is corroding because the alloys are reacting adversely to the iron contamination and acid rain.

The previous contractor, Banner, seems confident Colchester Council will pay its claims rather than face a very public court case.

There is no point to the VAF now the University of Essex is opening its own art gallery for Latin American art at the Hexagon.

The recent all-party support for squandering another £7 million on this carbuncle is in contrast to councillor's statemnts to the press.

This sorry saga has been marked by arrogance, incompetence and secrecy.

Andy Hamilton
Ackland Avenue
Colchester