Future of big screen in the balance as council considers its options
The city centre big screen could be sold off by the city council, the Mail can reveal today.
The screen was controversially bought by the authority's previous Labour administration four years ago for just under £700,000.
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The big screen in Queen Victoria Square, Hull city centre
At the time, it was bought to coincide with the Athens Olympics after the council was unexpectedly offered the chance to buy a screen originally destined for Leeds city centre.
Although the screen has planning consent to remain in Queen Victoria Square until 2010, a sponsorship deal with electronics giant Philips ends next year.
City council leader Councillor Carl Minns admitted the screen's long-term future was in the balance.
He said: "I have always maintained buying the screen was not a sensible use of public funds.
"The original decision to buy it was rushed through in secret.
"Now, with both the sponsorship and the planning permission running out, there is a need for a proper debate over its future."
"Technically, I suppose it is a council asset as we own it.
"The options to be considered will include keeping it where it is, moving it to another location or selling it.
"Because of the time scales involved, the council will have to decide on its position over the next 12 months."
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by paul, Hull
Tuesday, September 16 2008, 4:09PM
“anyone want to buy a white elephant?”
by Rich, hull
Thursday, August 14 2008, 12:05AM
“tony did the bbc say that they woul be contributing towards the screan or was that Colin Inglis being himself and cheating every body and we all know where that will go”
by Tony, East Yorkshire
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 8:16PM
“One question that's never been answered to my knowledge is:- How much does it cost the ratepayers of Hull to run the screen (including overheads for manager's salary and other admin costs)?
To Naked Civil Servant, Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Hull only get the screen because Leeds didn't want it (your comment at 10:11 about Hull rivalling Manchester and Leeds)?”
by Tony, East Yorkshire
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 8:10PM
“I'm not certain here as it was quite a while ago but didn't Hull only get the screen because Leeds didn't want it (naked Civil Servant comment about Hull rivalling Manchester and Leeds @ 10:11)?
One question that's never been answered to my knowledge is just how much does it cost the Hull ratepayers to have the screen, Including the Manager's salary and overheads (with or without a sponsor)?”
by Guildhall Mole, Hull
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 7:09PM
“Don't you find it strange that the person who pushed through the buying of the big screen without proper debate, totally ignored the Council's tendering and purchasing rules and regulations and told us it would cost us nothing because it would be heavily sponsored has not leapt to its defence. Come on Councillor Inglis you can talk, you are not under caution in police cell or in the dock in a court of law.”
by naughty naughty, town center
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 5:30PM
“Margaret, very clever!! posting as asylum seeker and then posting as a concerned citizen, you are one and the same person but no one is taking your bait, thats why you raised it again”
by barry, Hull
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 4:25PM
“Frank, Ally said LIKE help the flood victims.. it was an example.. not a solution!”
by Dave, Hessle
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 4:20PM
“hdm staff test
Sorry but you failed.”
by Frank, Hull
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 4:19PM
“Ally, can you tell us when the big screen omitted to show Hull playing at Wembley? I know rugby fans aren't the brightest but that is dumb even by their standards. And why should the money from its sale help flood victims? Do you mean the ones who didn't have insurance but had the money for Plasma TVs, cigarettes, DVD players etc?”
by Ally, Hull
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 3:50PM
“I think the big screen should definitely go, it's neither use nor ornament. The biggest insult to it's existance was it not showing Hull play at Wembley. The week it was installed was the same week the council cut school uniform grants for people on a low wage because 'we no longer have the money available to fund uniform grants'. Hmm, i wonder why. I think it should be sold and the money put towards something more worthwhile, like helping flood victims for example (and no i wasn't one).”