Cost concerns over this planned sculpture to celebrate surfing heritage in Newquay
Concerns have been raised about taxpayers having to foot the bill for stuff like maintenance
Last updated 3rd Sep 2022
Concerns have been raised about how much a bronze sculpture designed to celebrate Newquay's surfing heritage could cost local taxpayers.
The five-metre tall £100,000 sculpture, which is planned for a site overlooking Towan Beach, is set to be donated by the Keogh Foundation.
A survey was carried out in Newquay this summer to see if there was public support for the sculpture and the results of that are due to go before Newquay Town Council next week.
However there are concerns that taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the siting and maintenance of the sculpture.
The bronze sculpture, which depicts a surfer riding a wave, has been proposed to celebrate the 60 years since Newquay became the UK's surfing mecca. But a report to the council said that it could cost the authority £20,000 for the initial costs to install the statue and then £2,500 a year to maintain it.
A report going to the town council next week indicates that the survey received 732 responses, although 105 were discounted as they either did not complete the form properly or were from people who live outside Newquay Parish. Of the 627 eligible responses, 407 were in favour of the statue with 220 voting against it being placed on the Killacourt, overlooking Towan Beach.
Details of the possible cost to the council were provided in the survey which was given to residents – this stated that the £2,500 annual cost would cover maintenance costs such as electricity, cleaning and insurance. The document also said that the council was investigating the use of solar panels to provide energy to light up the statue.
However, it has been reported that some are concerned about the cost to taxpayers. Monique Collins from Disc, a drop-in centre in Newquay, told The Guardian: "For council tax to go on a statue when so many people are struggling to eat properly or pay their bills is ridiculous".
And Green councillor Kate Larsen added: "It doesn’t feel right when that money could be spent on people who are really struggling in a cost of living crisis.
"I'm absolutely for beautifying the town, but I would rather funds go to ensuring the lowest-paid town council employees and contractors earn a real living wage and that we support local charities helping people in this perfect storm of stressful housing challenges, energy cost rises, and inflation".
Stuart Keogh from the Keogh Foundation said that there had been strong support for the statue: "We firmly believe that this gift to Newquay should be situated in the centre of the home of British surfing, in the spot that overlooks those breaks that the original Newquay surfers most utilised sixty years ago and that spot is the Killacourt".
Statement from the Keogh Foundation
Mr Keogh added: “Surfing plays a significant social, economic, and cultural role in the development of many coastal communities – and this is certainly the case with Newquay.
"Surfers who travel the globe see iconic structures, honouring the value of surfing in key locations such as Santa Cruz, Huntington Beach, Honolulu, Nazare and Florianópolis. Yet, despite the mammoth array of positive impacts that surfing has had on Newquay, and the significant numbers of tourists who come every year, we don't have a monument to celebrate the sport that has carved out everything that this town is today.
"Surfers, locals and visitors alike flock to statues such as this to get their photos taken and then they post these up on social media, so the whole world can see what Newquay is all about.
“We have the support of a large number of the surfing community and also of Visit Cornwall who have confirmed that a statue such as this would create a brilliant impression, and could even bring up to £500,000 of additional publicity value and extra income per year for Newquay, especially as surfing is now an Olympic sport. And Newquay Town Council has expressed its interest in more public art for the town so this statue would be ticking two boxes at once.
"We are keen to gift it to the people of Newquay, in the year that is recognised as the 60th birthday of surfing in Newquay. We are also all of the clear opinion that it should be situated in the centre of the home of British surfing, in the spot that overlooks those breaks that the original Newquay surfers most utilised sixty years ago.
"Our Keogh Foundation is delighted to make the gift of all the costs for the sculpture which will be in the region of £100,000, and would be delighted if Newquay Town Council would contribute the one off cost of siting, likely to be around £10,000, and the yearly cost of maintenance which will be approximately £1,000 per year".
When is a decision due?
Newquay Town Council is set to meet next week (Wednesday Sept 7th) to discuss the statue and the response to the consultation.