A cash-strapped council has been slammed for spending £35,000 of taxpayers cash on two corgi statues in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. Walsall Council forked out thousands of pounds on the stone corgis which have gone on display in Walsall Arboretum as it celebrates its 150th anniversary.
But many residents have questioned whether the cash could have been spent better elsewhere as the authority looks to slash £20m from its budget this year. Locals also pointed to the fact council tax had been raised by 4.99 per cent and said they failed to ‘see the point’ of the 5ft long commemorative corgi statues.
Tracey Wilkins, 55, of Blakenall, Walsall, said: “I like them, but it’s a bit controversial, isn’t it? £35,000 the council spent on these sculptures. It could have just been better spent elsewhere. We have issues with potholes, fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour, failing high streets. There’s just better ways to spend £35,000 in Walsall.”
Daniel Taylor, 32, of Ryecroft, Walsall, added: “They’re nice, it looks like they did good work on them. I’m not really sure what they are for though. They could do with a little plaque or something, just something to let people know what it is about.”
Jonathan Edia, researcher at the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Local taxpayers are sick of pointless public artworks. While the intention behind the sculptures is well meaning, this brings no respite to Walsall residents who have seen their services slashed. Walsall Council should get its priorities in order.”
Writing on Facebook another local resident commented: “I could perhaps understand a statue of the late Queen, but her dogs? Spending on anything like this when services are being cut is ridiculous.”
Another asked: “Have they really not got anything better to spend people’s money on?”
One woman said: “Could have put that money to animal shelters and rescues that full and not coping.” However others said the tribute to the late Queen and her two favourite dogs. looked “beautiful” and believe it will attract visitors to the picturesque arboretum.
Claire Williams, 43, of Walsall, said: “They’re lovely, aren’t they? Just look at them – they’re a bit big for regular corgis, but they’re amazing. I saw them when they were unveiled, they look really good.”
Jane Gough, 62, from Caldmore, Walsall, added: “They’re great. It’s a great way to commemorate the late Queen. She loved corgis. She adored them. It’s such a nice way to remember her memory.”
The Queen visited the arboretum on her first official visit to Walsall as monarch in 1962. The unveiling event was visited by the leader of Walsall Council, Councillor Garry Perry, who said that the statues are a ‘real milestone’ for the council.
Speaking at the event, he said: “We’ve been planning this ever since the death of the late Queen and we wanted to have a fitting tribute to her life and her service to the country, and this is what came from that. She was very much a lover of her royal dogs and we felt that that lends itself well to our green spaces, particularly at the Arboretum.”
