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Protest over Quantum Leap costs
Tuesday 22nd September 2009, 10:10AM BST.
The structure surrounded by scaffolding
A Shrewsbury councillor will today publicly spell out his objection over a controversial piece of public art created to commemorate the bicentenary of Charles Darwin.
Councillor Jon Tandy has urged people to turn out at 3pm today at the site of the Quantum Leap sculpture and Darwin Memorial Garden in Mardol Quay.
He said a banner carrying the message: “The Origin of What?” would be displayed at the site in protest over the spiralling costs of the artwork, which was revealed by the Shropshire Star last week.
Councillor Tandy, in a message posted on his Facebook page, said he had asked Shropshire Council not to spend any more money on the artwork.
Last week George Candler, assistant director culture and leisure at Shropshire Council, said the final budget for the sculpture was expected to be £450,000.
It was thought the project to create Quantum Leap and the Darwin Memorial Garden in Mardol Quay would cost £350,000.
Tomorrow Shropshire Council’s cabinet is being asked to approve a budget increase of £100,000.
It means the council will have scope to spend up to £483,090 although Mr Candler has said only £450,000 was expected to be spent.
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It would seem spectacularly pointless not to complete it now that it’s in place, whatever ones views. But hope budget cuts everywhere mean an end to large, civic, public Art projects because so many of them are simply badly conceived – and they have become too prevalent. More visual clutter in towns and landscapes often already obliterated by signs, symbol and “interpretation”.
It does look like a woodlouse though. Woodlouse -> trilobite – I suppose origin is in there somewhere. At least finish it and live with it.
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Somebody is making monkeys of us council tax payers. Anyone who thinks £450,000 is the absolute final cost must be bananas…
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Value for money, as one councillor used to say, what a laugh, even funnier than Darwin’s Gate. not for the rate payers though.
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Using County Council population figures for Shropshire the overall total of £450k represents £1.54 per capita. The £100k extra spending for this project included in the above figure represents 34p per capita. Clearly the project is evolving…
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The world’s most expensive slinky!
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‘Woppy’ Philips would have found a much better use for the materials used in this monstrosity. This squandering of Council Tax payers contributions beggars belief.
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How about holding a raffle, and sell tickets at £5 each. and the winner gets to press the plunger to blow the thing up, the council would get all their money back, and some.
Next time, ask the public, not councillors what is wanted
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