Nottinghamshire politicians are locked in a row over spending on public art after two separate sculpture projects faced questions about their value to taxpayers.
Newark and Sherwood District Council has faced criticism for its decision to spend £87,000 relocating a series of stone sculptures from storage to public display at its headquarters.
The Kiddey Stones, designed by sculptor Robert Kiddey, depict industrial production throughout history. The council, which has a Labour leader but is controlled by a coalition of Labour and independents, described the art as being of “great value” and argued it should be publicly accessible after 40 years in storage.
The December 2024 decision drew criticism from Conservative councillors. More than half of public consultation respondents opposed the plan, but it was approved by the council.
In response, an independent councillor accused Conservative counterparts of hypocrisy, citing the Tory-led Nottinghamshire County Council’s contribution of £37,400 toward a sculpture in Scrooby, a village near the South Yorkshire border.
Scrooby Rock, unveiled in September 2024, commemorates the 17th-century Pilgrims who journeyed to the United States, laying the groundwork for modern America. The Mayflower’s 1620 voyage carried 102 passengers, with approximately 25 million Americans today tracing lineage to them—many of whom originated from Scrooby.
The installation includes the names of all Mayflower passengers and honors the Wampanoag people, whose land the Pilgrims settled. Funded partly by the county council, the £60,000 project also received local donations.
The dispute surfaced during the County Council’s Overview Committee meeting on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Councillor Francis Purdue-Horan (Ind) challenged the Conservatives’ “hypocrisy” in supporting Scrooby Rock while criticizing Newark’s project.
County Councillor Keith Girling (Con), representing Newark West, had earlier remarked at a September 2024 Cabinet meeting: “I’m all for statues, but there’s a time and a place. We’re in a cost-of-living crisis—that’s where our focus should be.”
At last week’s meeting, Councillor Bruce Laughton (Con) responded that Scrooby Rock funding was approved by the “previous administration” under former Conservative leader Kay Cutts in 2019, declining to comment further.
Post-meeting, Cllr Purdue-Horan stated: “The Conservatives need to explain why spending £40,000 near Yorkshire is acceptable, but Newark’s project isn’t.”
In a joint statement, Newark’s Conservative County Councillors Sue Saddington, Sam Smith, Bruce Laughton, Keith Girling, and Johno Lee defended the Scrooby project as economically beneficial, contrasting it with Newark’s “vanity project.” They emphasized Scrooby Rock’s role in attracting U.S. tourists and boosting the local economy, while dismissing the £87,000 relocation as wasteful due to the council building’s low foot traffic.
They added: “Cllr Purdue-Horan should focus on residents’ priorities and urge his independent colleagues to heed public opinion. We remain committed to delivering for Newark.”
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