The Gazette states (February 7) Firstsite is applying for a 24-hour entertainment licence for the Visual Arts Facility.

If Firstsite read its “charitable objects”, it would be clear everything it does must be art related.

Therefore, pure entertainment, such as boxing or wrestling, would be unacceptable.

So would adult entertainment, such as casinos, pole dancing and mud wrestling.

The Vaf is peculiarly unsuitable for mass entertainment.

The entrances and exits are too restricted to meet health and safety requirements.

The 200-seat auditorium is too small to be cost-effective for celebrity entertainers.

Also, the acoustics need improvements.

Colchester Council always expected to heavily subsidise the Vaf. The last council estimate was public subsidies of £1million per year, and the few advance bookings suggest there will not be a commercial demand for this building.

Unanswered questions include who, apart from the taxpayer, will be responsible for the inevitable losses?

Who will be responsible for the damage to the works of art by the crowds heading for the auditorium?

Andy Hamilton
Acland Avenue
Colchester

...I noted the story on the Vaf applying for a 24-hour licence for events – including boxing matches – to be held at this art venue.

Boxers, and fans of boxing, will of course applaud this as they already claim that boxing is a noble art.

However, methinks this is a licence to print money for Firstsite.

Hopefully, Colchester Council won’t grant such a licence, unless of course the First call on any profits accruing from the events is made by the council on behalf of Colchester taxpayers to offset the annual subsidy it seems to have agreed to.

Or is this like the “Community Stadium” – not for Colchester at all.

Bob Dove
Launceston Close
Colchester