'Absolutely livid': Notts council plans to splash £80k on art next to its offices

Hundreds of people have slammed a Nottinghamshire council's plans to spend more than £80,000 installing sculptures outside its office. The plans would see the Kiddey Stones, which have been laid under tarpaulins in a cemetery for decades, becoming available for public view for the first time in 40 years.

Yet with Newark and Sherwood District Council saying the scheme could cost at least £81,240, hundreds of residents have now criticised the plans - with some saying they are "absolutely livid." The plans were first revealed in July and the next steps will be taken at a cabinet meeting on December 10.

Causing particular concern was the fact that the sculptures will be placed outside Newark and Sherwood District Council's Castle House HQ, which opened in 2017 after the authority moved out of Kelham Hall. Although the Castle House location is set to serve as the start of a wider trail, some residents have dubbed the scheme a "vanity project".

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Nearly 1,000 people responded to a consultation on the plans and a majority, 57%, were against the plans. Comments made during the consultation included: "Think it's highly disrespectful to all residents to think about such vanity projects after raising council tax in the current economy.

"Also if it's for all to see, why at Castle House? Why not in the town?" Another resident said: "Absolute waste of money in today's climate.

"£80k is a ridiculous amount of money to spend. It is morally wrong to spend money on some rocks from someone who isn't well known enough to even have a dodgy Wikipedia page. There are people in this area relying on food banks and you want to wazz money up the wall on this.

"Absolutely livid you are even bothering to consult on this, what planet are you all on!!" Another commenter added: "Do not spend my council tax on this ridiculous, outrageous and unnecessary display just for your greedy benefit.

"This is public money that you should be spending on potholes, shopping centre, re-generating the high street. [Disgusting] that you have the nerve to spend my money on your office view."

Robert Kiddey was born in Nottingham in 1900 and among his achievements were the figures that surround the top of Nottingham's Council House. The Kiddey Stones comprise 12 pieces of stone, forming four panels, each depicting a different aspect of electricity production given their previous home at the Wilford Power Station.

Describing what happened after the power station's closure, a Newark and Sherwood District Council report says: "When the power station closed in the early 1980s, the tablets were given to the town council. The tablets were briefly reassembled in the early 1990s when a town council working party was asked to explore options for their future.

"It is not known what happened after this, other than that the stones were stored at the cemetery under tarpaulins." The estimated £80,000 cost includes build costs and lighting.