6:20am Tuesday 2nd December 2008
COUNCILLORS have raised concerns about the style of public art planned for Southend seafront.
Various works of art and lighting are planned as part of the City Beach improvement scheme, a £7million revamp funded by the Government.
But opposition councillors at the economic and environmental scrutiny meeting said they were worried about the type of lighting and art that will materialise.
Martin Terry (Ind, Westborough) said: “I am worried we are giving carte blanche to consultants. “ He said existing public art, such as £390,000 Lifelines, at the top of Pier Hill was “a piece of tut”.
It is supposed to be a display of moving coloured lights, linked to sensors to reflect the changing light and weather on the Southend seafront.
However, the artwork’s perspex case has been hit condenstation which means the display is permanently obscured.
Deputy council leader John Lamb (Con, West Leigh) said art was all a matter of personal taste.
He said: “We are not all going to agree on art, but we do need art.
“We are short in this town of public art.”
No plans for the style of the art have yet been agreed, he added.
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