A CONTROVERSIAL and much-derided £390,000 sculpture on Southend seafront is to be removed after just five years.

The clear plastic Life Lines piece, at the top of Pier Hill, outside Debenhams, is being moved to a more suitable location at a cost of £20,00 because of repeated vandalism.

The piece, designed by award-winning artist Vong Phaophanit, was bought in 2006 with money from the Arts Council as part of the £6million regeneration of the Pier Hill area.

Patterns and colours inside the plastic were meant to constantly change as the piece’s electronic brain responded to the environment around it.

Even before it was officially opened, the work was vandalised leaving residents and traders to complain it had never worked properly.

Sceptics who spoke out when it was installed have condemned the whole exercise as a complete waste of money.

Roger Fisher, of Doodahs burger bar, Marine Parade, a former chairman of the seafront traders’ association, said: “It’s been in a state of disrepair for quite some time.

“When it was installed, there was a feeling it was a serious expense on something trivial.

“It was in the wrong place and though it worked intermittently at the outset, beyond that, it hasn’t been a success. It’s a bit of a waste of money.”

Graham Longley, leader of the Lib Dem group on the borough council said: “We asked questions about this early on. We asked whether it was appropriate for the setting and the intention behind it. We will not be disappointed to see it go.“ Even senior Tories who were running the council at the time it was put up struggle to find a good word for Life Lines, or take responsibility for giving it the go-ahead.

Anna Waite, now Tory councillor responsible for housing and social care and a leading member of the council at the time it was commissioned, said: “Personally, I’m not too keen on these modern pieces of art, but I know modern art is popular with some residents.

“At the time, I did think it wasn’t quite what we’d been sold. It was not as good as we hoped it would be. I’ve never actually seen it working properly – even on the day it went up.

“£390,000 does seem a lot of money for a piece of acrylic.“ Derek Jarvis, Tory councillor responsible for culture, said there was a small chance the council might get more Arts Council money to move the sculpture to a more suitable site.

It is likely to be moved next month and put in storage while an alternative site is found. Mr Jarvis said he had no idea if anything might be put it its place on the site.

The news comes just a week after the council spent £5,000 removing the £50,000 Millennium Clock, from the High Street where it has stood since 2000. Like Life Lines, it never worked properly.