Climber targets sculpture
Shrewsbury's controversial new sculpture in memory of Charles Darwin has attracted a thrill-seeking climber.
Bobbie Nugent, of Darwin Street, captured the man clambering over the statue in Mardol Quay Gardens on her cameraphone as she made her way back home from work at about 5.40pm yesterday.
Mrs Nugent, 59, said motorists travelling along Smithfield Road and other passers-by noticed the man, believed to be about 20 years old, making his way to the top of the sculpture.
She said: "It looks pretty dangerous but he just stood there on top of it.
"I don't know whether he was foolhardy or brave."
Meanwhile, an online poll conducted by the Shropshire Star has revealed that most people believe that the artwork represents good value for money.
The sculpture has come under increasing fire from taxpayers after Shropshire Council agreed to increase the budget for the work to more than £450,000.
But the Star's survey shows that, so far, more people believe it is still worth spending the extra cash.
A total of 878 people cast their votes at Shropshirestar.com and the majority said that they think the sculpture represents good value.
The figures revealed 476 people voted yes in favour of the artwork while 402 said they did not think it was worth it.
Comments for: "Climber targets sculpture"
Alex
I just new it was a matter of time before someone climbed on this. "ugly waste of tax payers money sculpture"
brian2
I know, let's spend another £100,000 to protect it from the public.
OR you could give me £50,000 and I would demolish it.
tony roberts
how long before its covered in graphitti, cordoned off after people climbing it and i bet empty tins and garbage hanging off it...
Lucy W
If people look at the old threads you will see I foresaw this.
The 'sculpture' will now require a 20m prespex wall around it costing £100,000
The Phrophet Lucy
fuggs
good value for money, the council IT dept has been busy and now the council won't to spend more Tax payers money on security , it looks as old as Charles Darwin..
Shaun the sheep
Will you people please stop whinging! Every story i've read about the sculpture had been followed by a load of sad individuals moaning on about it. If you don't like it you don't have to look at it. You people are like predictable sheep......winge winge....tax payers money.....winge winge....council tax rises. It's this backward, scared of change attitude that's turning shrewsbury into a ghost town.
You folks that moan about the cost of it during a recession are missing the point. People have been employed to construct it, people were employed to make and deliver the materials, equipment, etc. To end a recession money had to be spent.
Lastly - I don't have any kids, I don't claim any benefits & I have private healthcare. I'm an employed tax payer in Shrewsbury so I'm quite prepared for the council to use the tax money taken from me, for schooling my kids, claiming benefits and using the NHS, into the sculpture budget. There, does that make you people feel better?
Andrew finch
And who is going to do the security every weekend 52 weeks of the year.
Lucy W
Shaun the Sheep. I don't like it and I don't look at it, but I still have to pay for it!!
Sorry if I sound like he big bad wolf, but I'm glad I'm not just another sheep in the fold.
Shakewell
Why have security? Isn't it the most fitting tribute to Darwin if those stupid enough to climb the thing fall and remove themselves from the gene pool?
askeric dotcom
Well ...
At last we've found a use for this construction!
It can be used for teaching mountain climbing !!
What a good idea!!
Persona Non Grata
Shakewell - perhaps stressed eric would like to be the first to give us a demonstration of this 'Natural Selection'.
Snake Pliskin
there is already graffiti on it, some numbty has scralled EBF all over it. reminds me of new york...
Andrew Owen
I thought you escaped from New York.
askeric dotcom
Persona non grata (#11)
Who is "stressed Eric" ?
And Natural selection? ...
only the fittest, best, and bravest make it to the top!