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'Arty farty' £75,000 Brighton sculpture slammed
10:49pm Friday 27th June 2008
Critics have blasted plans to spend £75,000 on an "arty farty" sculpture to welcome tourists.
The public artwork is among several plans under consideration to improve Brighton and Hove's landscape.
The city council has proposed to invite artists to submit designs for a sculpture at Patcham roundabout and a panel, including councillors, would choose the most suitable design.
Woodingdean councillor Geoffrey Wells, said: "Call me a philistine if you like but there has been too much money wasted on schemes like this in the past.
"It's about time money that can be found for arty farty ideas the like of this should be spent on something more practical."
The authority is also considering tidying up the roundabout close to the Palace Pier by removing the boat.
Geoffrey Theobald, cabinet member for environment, said: "I'm considering ways of trying to make some improvements but I've by no means made up my mind.
"I'm looking to improve the roundabouts at Patcham and the Palace Pier but I have only shared ideas with my colleagues.
"I have numerous ideas for trying to improve the appearance of our city, both for residents and for visitors.
"The route into the city centre from London, which is seen by millions of people every year, I think is extremely important. I'm putting an emphasis on the appearance of our city. I happen to believe residents and visitors like to see pride in our city."
But councillors oppose the proposal to build a statue on the Patcham roundabout.
Coun Wells said: "Trouble is it won't stop at £75,000. It will need to be put into place.
It will probably need to be lit up so it can be seen from afar at night. It could temporarily distract road users as well."
Coun Lynda Hyde,who represents Rottingdean Coastal ward, said: "It seems an extravagant and excessive amount of money to spend on a sculpture.
"I think there are lots of companies in the city that would be willing to sponsor the roundabout and pay for its upkeep."
The council spokesman said: "The Patcham and Palace Pier roundabouts are on the main route into the city for residents and visitors, and Coun Theobald has been thinking of ideas to transform them, for example, with new planting, to make them more attractive and welcoming.
"One idea Coun Theobald had was to hold a competition to invite suggestions, particularly at Patcham where there are problems because of pipes under the roundabout and maintaining it because of the speed of surrounding traffic.
"There are no firm plans. This is part of ongoing work to provide extra flowerbeds and environmental improvements across the city."
Should we have a sculpture or is it a waste of money? Tell us below.
Your Say YourArgus
Luise, Bton says...
11:23pm Fri 27 Jun 08
Allan, Worthing says...
11:30pm Fri 27 Jun 08
jayne, hove says...
11:46pm Fri 27 Jun 08
how about a sculpture made from the metal of the west pier, into a mini eiffel tower or wind turbine, you heard it here first.
Gentleman Jim, Brighton says...
11:56pm Fri 27 Jun 08
Surely the Council need every penny to pay the ever increasing cost of fuel, however it is no problem as they just need to increase even further the Council Tax.
penny, pavilion says...
12:10am Sat 28 Jun 08
Rob, Hove says...
12:10am Sat 28 Jun 08
Maria Maxi, Brighton Central says...
12:17am Sat 28 Jun 08
andy pollard, brighton says...
12:52am Sat 28 Jun 08
paul, brighton says...
12:54am Sat 28 Jun 08
If not why is he coming up with ideas himself?
A competition judged by a qualified panel (for a short list) and final selection by the council has to be the way to go.
Then Geoffrey Theobald can put in his ideas along with everyone elses.
Ronnie, Brighton says...
1:47am Sat 28 Jun 08
If you (we) want to attract tourists, the first thing to do is get rid of all the street drunks beggars and drug pushers.
NO ONE will talk about how wonderfull a statue was on a roundabout, but EVERYONE already talks about how Brighton is infested with scumbags.
Anyway, they should be watching the road, not **** statues on roundabouts.
Angela, Brighton says...
1:58am Sat 28 Jun 08
Ronnie wrote:Oh Ronnie - you are so right. Thank god for a bit of sense.
What a 'crack pot' idea (no pun intended) If you (we) want to attract tourists, the first thing to do is get rid of all the street drunks beggars and drug pushers. NO ONE will talk about how wonderfull a statue was on a roundabout, but EVERYONE already talks about how Brighton is infested with scumbags. Anyway, they should be watching the road, not **** statues on roundabouts.
My friends will not consider coming to Brighton anymore, purely and simply because of the beggars and drunks everywhere. Brighton has become a real dump, and it is up to the council and the police to sort it out. The idea of spending fortunes putting silly things on roundabouts instead of attending to the obvious issues is outrageous. Throw this open to a vote and the vast majority of Brightons council tax payers will agree.
Daniel W, B&H says...
2:10am Sat 28 Jun 08
Namely: The abundance of hard Drugs, alcohol for the alcoholics, thousands of benefit sciving yobs, and an ever increasing number of 'homeless' beggars that have come here because the council are such an easy touch.
Yes that should attract tourists - I dont think.
caeos, says...
2:24am Sat 28 Jun 08
Martin, Rottingdean says...
6:22am Sat 28 Jun 08
I think most of the weirdos in Brighton seem to be alive and kicking and posting on this forum ?
You miserable so and so's
william of orange, Brighton says...
8:29am Sat 28 Jun 08
That roundabout is famous for the rabbits so maybe we should have a statue of a giant rabbit. I would be willing to undertake such a prestigious task and to make it more artistic I propose that my rabbit, who we will call Harvey, will be invisible and will only be seen by people of high intelligence. Furthermore my rabbit will be politically correct as it will be a one legged, lesbian, immigrant rabbit. I am happy to undertake this for only £35k ie half the price.
I can be located at the Sunningdale Mental home for ex councillors in the "councillors who are asking to be voted out if they keep wasting our money and don't focus on the real issues" wing.
Maria Maxi, brighton Central says...
9:20am Sat 28 Jun 08
sm, says...
9:33am Sat 28 Jun 08
Flat Foot Soozie, Brusnwick Square says...
10:19am Sat 28 Jun 08
It is not a roundabout that greets visitors to Brighton.
It is a great ugly hulking concrete bridge, part of the by-pass ripping through the Downs.
He would do better to consider improvements to the concrete bridge than wasting money on a roundabout.
He was the one who wanted to ban dogs.
sashka, lewes says...
10:21am Sat 28 Jun 08
With all the good ways of spending money do people really think that this is a priority. Give me a garden waste bag and some secateurs and I will make a lot of difference for nothing.
The idea that tourists make their mind up about Brighton , based on the first roundabout at the end of the A23 next to a garage is completely ridiculous.
The point of entry for tourists is wherever they think it is. Some people take notice of the stone pillars further out, I feel welcome to Brighton as soon, as I get to the parks on the left.
What would the Audit Commission think of this use of public resources?
.
popeye, says...
10:40am Sat 28 Jun 08
The authority is also considering tidying up the roundabout close to the Palace Pier by removing the boat.
KEEP THE BOAT! MAKE IT BIGGER!
Sam, Brighton says...
11:25am Sat 28 Jun 08
Ronnie wrote:I disagree, the monotony of travel is broken up by artwork at regular intervals, I have travelled through Belgium and they have many MOTORWAYS with public artwork on the central divider, it certainly keeps you awake and DOES NOT distract from travelling.
What a 'crack pot' idea (no pun intended) If you (we) want to attract tourists, the first thing to do is get rid of all the street drunks beggars and drug pushers. NO ONE will talk about how wonderfull a statue was on a roundabout, but EVERYONE already talks about how Brighton is infested with scumbags. Anyway, they should be watching the road, not **** statues on roundabouts.
Andy, Brighton says...
11:28am Sat 28 Jun 08
Martin wrote:I agree mate, if Brighton is so bad, then why don't these bloody moaners sod off somewhere else and leave the rest of us to our fair city.
@Ronnie @Angela I think most of the weirdos in Brighton seem to be alive and kicking and posting on this forum ? You miserable so and so's
Jan, Brighton says...
1:20pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Daniel W wrote:Remember all the jobs created in Brighton by the drug dealers and drunks they include support workers, counsellors, outreach workers, social workers, drug support workers the list is endless, it is a bigger industry now in Brighton than tourism could ever be.
We could have a big sign in front of the statue advertising Brightons main attractions. Namely: The abundance of hard Drugs, alcohol for the alcoholics, thousands of benefit sciving yobs, and an ever increasing number of 'homeless' beggars that have come here because the council are such an easy touch. Yes that should attract tourists - I dont think.
tricia tidy, brighton says...
1:49pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Minny and friends, Bedford says...
3:15pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Adam, Brighton says...
3:28pm Sat 28 Jun 08
To those that seem to like 'diversity' (is that what you call it?) why dont YOU go and live with them, or let them stay with you if you like them so much.
Or perhaps they already do . . .
Amy, Brighton says...
3:49pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Maria Maxi wrote:We are not talking about people that are different by virtue of having pink and green hair or strange clothes. We are talking about aggresive beggars, thieving drug users, and sciving drunks that live off the system and like abusing people.
Brighton is a town of tolerance and a safe haven for those who are different. I travel the central area every day at all times and although I have seen drunks, beggars and what could be homeless people they have never interfered with me. Yes they do stagger about and sometimes swear, sometimes ask for money( a polite sorry no usually suffices), but as they say, it takes all sorts and its only words. I wonder how much the people who constantly complain about them have actually been bothered by them or is it maybe that they just dont like the look of them? maybe they just dont fit into your view of what people should do and how they should look. There are many places that I would rather not be than here. If our city is so bad why dont you move to Horsham or Tunbridge Wells as they are more your sort of places, everything in good order and just so, you will fit in well
You are obviously a totally nieve. partially sighted twit if you live in Brighton and think things are as they should be.
Go down to the Royal Sussex A&E on any night of the week and see who makes up the vast majority of patients. Its drunks (habitual and visiting), down and outs and drug users that have been fighting, falling down stairs, or injecting too much.
The 'Rose tinted spectacle shop' is closed hunny - get used to it.
Stroller, Hove says...
5:42pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Perhaps he is acting in this wild way to undermine the Conservatives because they rejected him a leader?
happy as muck, Brighton says...
7:56pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Big Cheese, Peacehaven says...
8:19pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Frances Carpenter, Lewes says...
8:35pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Sensible vistors would do much better to go right round the thing and head east for a spot of civilisation in Lewes, where we have a proper High Street, not the universal tat of Churchill "Square".
Brighton is the sleazy pits and it looks as if Councillor Theobald is trying to make it even worse.
Peter D, Brighton says...
8:55pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Doesnt who ever dreamt up this novel way of wasting tax payers money realise that when tourists see Patcham roundabout and the Pier, they are ALREADY in Brighton?
Durrrrrrrrrh
Susie, Seven Dials says...
8:58pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Maria Maxi wrote:Bet you are earning a living out of these types, well if you have a kid that turns out to be one of them at least you will be COOL with it Maria.
Brighton is a town of tolerance and a safe haven for those who are different. I travel the central area every day at all times and although I have seen drunks, beggars and what could be homeless people they have never interfered with me. Yes they do stagger about and sometimes swear, sometimes ask for money( a polite sorry no usually suffices), but as they say, it takes all sorts and its only words. I wonder how much the people who constantly complain about them have actually been bothered by them or is it maybe that they just dont like the look of them? maybe they just dont fit into your view of what people should do and how they should look. There are many places that I would rather not be than here. If our city is so bad why dont you move to Horsham or Tunbridge Wells as they are more your sort of places, everything in good order and just so, you will fit in well
mick, worthing says...
8:16am Sun 29 Jun 08
Gentleman Jim, Brighton says...
8:45pm Sun 29 Jun 08
paul, brighton says...
12:20am Mon 30 Jun 08
lou, hove says...
12:25am Mon 30 Jun 08
Melvin, Brighton says...
4:45am Mon 30 Jun 08
So wake up all you on the council - on current reckoning you are not fit for purpose.
Gino, Portslade says...
10:18am Mon 30 Jun 08
And leave the boat at the Palace Pier alone as well...there's ntohing wrong with it, we don't need to waste any more money in the currect economic climate.
grumpy, hove says...
2:53pm Mon 30 Jun 08
Paul, Peacehaven says...
3:33pm Mon 30 Jun 08
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Artists could be asked to submit designs for a project at Patcham roundabout
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Phil, says...
11:21pm Fri 27 Jun 08