B'ham city council spend 25k on John Henry Newman statue.

[Victor McDade]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-14...


Just what council tax payers need.

[Kwai Chang Caine]

Small change to our illustrious local leaders.

"The original plan was to site it in Cofton Park but Chris Rice said they were now "considering a couple of other options".

"One of which, and this is by no means confirmed, is the Birmingham Oratory," he added."

So, this publically funded statue is now to reside in the local branch of one of the richest institutions on Earth.

Amazing.

[Jim the Sunderer]

Sculptors bribing council officals?

[Streps]

Stupid waste of money.

[perdu]

I went to school next door to the Oratory and JHN was considered the school "saint" in waiting even back in the sixties. His picture was all over the place, so I knew what he looked like even as a boy.

This statue hardly looks like the man to me...

Kinda like him - ish

Purrups that's why the RC church doesn't wan't to pay for it.

Glad it's not my council paying for the thing (first time I have said that about THEM!)

[Pesty]

who?

[Eric Mc]

I thought for a second they were talking about this guy - which would be OK in my book. Wrong "Newman" obviously.

[perdu]

Now he was my school hero

I spent far too much time reading MAD

So much that I c'ant remember anyfing the skoole tried to taught me

[S5llr]

That's nothing! Have a look at this for a waste of money..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-o...

[JensenA]

S5llr said:

That's nothing! Have a look at this for a waste of money..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-o...

I suspect the people of Aberdeen won't think its a waste of money.

[perdu]

Aye and a bloody sight better sculpted than the Newman statue too. Very handsome.

[S5llr]

It does look good and your be surprised how many people are always out taking pictures of it. I just think of what else the money could have been spent on.

[dandarez]

perdu said:

Aye and a bloody sight better sculpted than the Newman statue too. Very handsome.

Agree.

Plus the 'Common Good Fund' was used ('not' taxpayers £££s) which topped £31million a few years back, so 120 grand won't even make a ding in it!

Councils and other organisations, including NHS Trusts love to waste money on poorer substitutes or anything that is called 'sculpture'.

Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital 'sculpture' was erected years back and said to help patients and calm them. It is near the main entrance. I think it cost 17k then!
Calm them? They probably boiled over in anger at the waste of money.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.c...

[Pesty]

dandarez said:

Agree.

Plus the 'Common Good Fund' was used ('not' taxpayers £££s) which topped £31million a few years back, so 120 grand won't even make a ding in it!

Councils and other organisations, including NHS Trusts love to waste money on poorer substitutes or anything that is called 'sculpture'.

Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital 'sculpture' was erected years back and said to help patients and calm them. It is near the main entrance. I think it cost 17k then!
Calm them? They probably boiled over in anger at the waste of money.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.c...

Ive been to the JR loads of times don't even recal seeing that.

[Life Saab Itch]

I think more locals would have been able to relate to it if it had been John Henry Bonham.

[AndyClockwise]

Pah - amateur money wasting.

Try £1.4million on artwork for a new hospital.

Surely they could have asked some art students from the local art college to paint something nice for much less money?

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Hospital-insists-ar...

[dandarez]

Pesty said:

dandarez said:

Agree.

Plus the 'Common Good Fund' was used ('not' taxpayers £££s) which topped £31million a few years back, so 120 grand won't even make a ding in it!

Councils and other organisations, including NHS Trusts love to waste money on poorer substitutes or anything that is called 'sculpture'.

Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital 'sculpture' was erected years back and said to help patients and calm them. It is near the main entrance. I think it cost 17k then!
Calm them? They probably boiled over in anger at the waste of money.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.c...

Ive been to the JR loads of times don't even recal seeing that.

Perhaps the patients pulled it down! It was on the mini roundabout as you turned up(hill) to the main entrance. I haven't been up there recently - perhaps its gone since all the new building and that took place?

[BOR]

perdu said:

I went to school next door to the Oratory

Hey, me too. (1974 - 1981 )

Newman is quite a big deal to the Birmingham RC community, so the statue makes sense, although I agree with the sentiment that maybe the church should pay for it.

[Kwai Chang Caine]

Talking of ludicrous council spending, does anyone know the whereabouts of Walsall council's famous "black Diana" statue?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bla...

It is alleged locally that the council did indeed purchase this wonderful piece of art in the end.

[Asterix]

Eric Mc said:

I thought for a second they were talking about this guy - which would be OK in my book. Wrong "Newman" obviously.

Scotty from American Idol?