'Art for who’s sake?' - Council Conservative group leader slams Crewe town centre artwork proposals

By Ryan Parker

27th Jul 2022 | Opinion

One of the two Royal Arcade artwork proposals released last week - July 19 (Cheshire East Council).
One of the two Royal Arcade artwork proposals released last week - July 19 (Cheshire East Council).

The Conservative Group Leader of Cheshire East Council has highlighted her frustration on the Crewe town centre public artwork proposals - quickly postponed last week.

Wybunbury ward councillor, Cllr Janet Clowes, was infuriated that Crewe residents and elected members and weren't involved with the Crewe town centre artwork proposals.

Last week (July 19), Cheshire East Council announced that a public vote would be opening to decide a new piece of street art for Crewe's Royal Arcade development.

Cheshire East Conservative group leader, Cllr Janet Clowes, offered her opinion to Crewe Nub News (Cheshire East Council).

The council revealed two designs and posted images of both on social media for the public to take a look at and give their initial thoughts.

Just over 24 hours after the two designs were publicly promoted (July 20), the council cancelled the upcoming vote - meant for Friday (July 22).

Here's what Cheshire East Council's Conservative group leader told Nub News:

Cheshire East Council has commissioned a huge public art piece to adorn the side of the Royal Arcade Bus Station - as we were told by a fellow Crewe Councillor at Wednesday's (July 20) full Council meeting.

The other Royal Arcade artwork proposal released last week - July 19 (Cheshire East Council).

Elected members at the meeting looked bemused - many of us knew nothing about it. (It appears we missed the email sent out late the previous afternoon).

Thank goodness, one of our Crewe Colleagues was on the ball.

She asked all the questions that we wanted to know: where did this idea come from? How is it being paid for? How much? How was the artist chosen? Who decided the two 'options' for the public to choose from?

Perhaps the most salient question, can a third option be added to the public consultation; option A, option B, none of these?

Cheshire East Council cancelled the upcoming vote on the Crewe artwork proposals just over 24 hours later (Cheshire East Council).

Bemusement was mixed with a fair bit of anger as member engagement was clearly lacking in this project.

Within hours of the end of the Council meeting, an email to members and a media post on the website.

This said: "Cheshire East Council has been listening to initial feedback and has put on hold plans to host a public vote to decide on the design of a 'heritage wall." Quite right too.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of public art, but bearing in mind this may be coming from the public purse and the public will have to live with it for a very long time, members and more importantly, residents, have the right to be involved.

Crewe toen centre demolition. Cllr Janet Clowes wants local residents to be involved with the Royal Arcade artwork propoals (Ryan Parker).

They should have been involved from the outset. Let's hope that now they will.

Cheshire East Council will now review the design proposals and consider how they can be re-presented.

READ MORE: Nine jobs to apply for in Crewe this week.

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Crewe Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

Please consider following Crewe Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.

     

New crewe Jobs Section Launched!!
Vacancies updated hourly!!
Click here: crewe jobs

Share:

Related Articles

OPINION: Wages in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency have fallen by an average of £1,089 - resulting in a 3.5% cut (Ryan Parker).
Opinion

OPINION: Real wages across Crewe and Nantwich fall 3.5% since Tory leadership

From April 2020 to April 2021 there were six cases of fly tipping reported every day in Crewe (Andy Rowland).
Opinion

Opinion: Crewe fly-tipping capital of Cheshire East - 'repeat offenders should go to prison'

WIN A £25 AMAZON VOUCHER!!!

To enter just subscribe to our FREE Stockport NubNews Newsletter.
Every subscriber will be automatically entered into our competition.
Deadline 31 March 2024.

Already subscribed? Thank you. Just press X or click here.
By clicking the Subscribe button you agree to our
Privacy Policy and Competition terms and conditions.