'Divisive' town centre sculpture to be relocated

The Water Head sculpture was created by artist Paul Mason

A 35-year-old town centre sculpture will be removed as part of renovation work.

The Water Head in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, known locally as 'the stump', had previously divided opinions, according to Beeston and District Civic Society.

Depicting a tree trunk, the white marble artwork was once a water feature, but was turned off in the 1990s, the heritage group said.

Broxtowe Borough Council said it had asked residents to help find a suitable place to relocate the sculpture.

The authority said it aimed to create more space in Beeston Square - where the sculpture sits - for events and "other future opportunities".

Geoffrey Jones, 69, has never noticed the structure despite living in Beeston for 15 years

Beeston resident Carolynne Craven, 56, said the sculpture would "not be missed".

She said: "It'd be nice to see something in its place that's more iconic to Beeston or Nottingham that means something."

Geoffrey Jones, a resident of 15 years, compared the sculpture to "a lamppost" and said he had "never noticed it".

Michelle Hird, 53, said she thought it was "really ugly" and could not see where it would fit in.

The Beeston and District Civic Society said: "Art, by its very nature, is not always seen in the same way by all of us but we would encourage everyone to suggest places where the sculpture can provide a real talking point in the public eye."

Carolynne Craven, 56, was not sure what the sculpture was

The heritage group said one of its objectives was to improve communities in Beeston and its surrounding districts.

It started a public survey to help the council find a new location for the sculpture.

The survey on the civic society's website is open until 31 August.

A spokesperson for the group said: "Art plays an important role in creating spaces where people can relax, enjoy their local surroundings and discuss the relative merits of sculptures and murals and the setting they are in.

"So we were more than pleased to support Broxtowe Borough Council in finding a new home for an important work by an important artist."

The borough council said: "The Water Head sculpture is to be relocated from Beeston Square to a more suitable, complementary location as this will allow the paving to be reinstated.

This will provide a better space for events such as markets, music events like Friday18, and other future opportunities."