By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A council will press ahead with plans to spend £87,000 moving stone sculptures to its headquarters – despite more than half of people who took part in a consultation rejecting the idea.
The Kiddey Stones, designed by sculptor Robert Kiddey, depict electricity production throughout history.
They are made up of 12 stones that collectively weigh more than eight tonnes, and had been based at Wilford Power Station before it was demolished in the 1980s.
Newark Town Council subsequently obtained the stones, but they have since sat under tarpaulin in the town’s cemetery for around 40 years.
In September the town council agreed in principle a 40-year loan of the stones to Newark and Sherwood District Council, and the authority proposed moving them to its headquarters at Castle House for public viewing.
Plans to install them as part of a public art trail were approved by the council’s cabinet in June, subject to a public consultation.
However, more than 50 per cent of respondents rejected the plans, largely due to costs.
Despite the results, a majority of councillors agreed to move them to Castle House at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (December 10).
Cllr Rowan Cozens (Ind), deputy leader of the council and portfolio holder for heritage, culture and the arts, admitted there had been a “significant rise in the costs”, but said she believes it is the “right thing to do for these sculptures right now”.
“While it is a very, very small per cent, it is a large amount of money, and I completely take on board what everybody is saying,” she said.
“No decisions are easy and stepping up and taking responsibility for your decision is one I am more than happy to do.
“I believe fully that these are of great value [and] represent the industrial heritage of this region.
“It is not feasible to leave tonnes of sculpture that have now been cleaned and restored to languish for another 40 years. So I stand by my portfolio holder decision.”
The cost of the project is now estimated to be in the region of £87,430, having increased from £81,000 due to inflation.
In the consultation 57 per cent of the 881 responses rejected the plan, while 40.75 had expressed support.
However of the 40 per cent supportive responses, almost half were against the Castle House location as their primary concern.
Of the negative responses, one said it was “morally wrong to spend money on some rocks” while another said it is “highly disrespectful to all residents to think about such vanity projects”.
Cllr Jack Kellas (Con) said: “There has been a fair amount of emotion in this and I think it is understandable as to why.
“The residents’ survey shows this is the bottom priority in terms of what residents want us to focus on, and what this administration is proposing to do is spend a good chunk of money siting something here.
“I think Kiddey’s work is important… but I also think we listen to what residents have said.”
Responding Cllr Paul Peacock, the council’s leader, said: “Just for the record the money we are going to spend this year is 0.16 per cent of the money this council will spend during 2024/25.
“You said before this is not high on the priorities for people on the residents’ survey, well, I’m not sure spending 0.16 per cent is suggesting at all we are prioritising this, we are saying this is good value for money.”
Speaking after the meeting Cllr Peacock added the plans will “put right a 40-year travesty”.
Six councillors voted for the plans, one voted against them and another abstained.
Work to move the stones will begin spring 2025.
Robert Kiddey (1900-1984) was a well-known Newark artist who won national acclaim for his sculptures. He also taught in the town for more than 50 years.
