Sculptures branded 'a waste of money'

The three artworks have been at County Hall, Durham, since June as part of a two-year £55,000 project.

Over the next week or so they will be removed, prompting Weardale Independent councillor John Shuttleworth to criticise the project.

The first to go, from outside the building's main entrance, will be Kiss, a metal sculpture by Nigel Hall. Yatra was created by Stephen Cox and Accord by Charles Haddock.

When they were installed the Labour-run council was criticised as it had announced the possible closure of schools under its "blueprint for excellence" education programme.

Messages left by visitors on a noticeboard at County Hall included: "Rubbish. A total waste of money. Should have spent money on schools."

Coun Shuttleworth said: "It has been a waste of public money and it shouldn't have been allowed. They said it would attract visitors but I haven't seen any tourists coming around to look at it."

Coun Shuttleworth said he thought Kiss looked like an old fire extinguisher turned upside down.

The project, which includes public participation, aims to create an artwork in Durham that will attract visitors.

Officials in the council's cultural services department claim it has proved a success.

In a briefing note to councillors that said: "The sculptures have attracted a huge amount of debate and interest throughout the summer and it is pleasing to report independent consultation and feedback support our own research and confirm huge success in this first year."

It said that 63 per cent of visitors described the sculptures as good or excellent, while 16 per cent disliked or strongly disliked them. It added that 71 per cent of respondents at a consultation event did not think the sculptures were a waste of money.