Critics say it is wrong for Newquay Council to pick up the bill when so many taxpayers are struggling with the cost of living crisis. A charity wants to donate the 5m (16ft), £100,000 statue to the north Cornwall resort to mark the 60th anniversary of surfing in its modern form arriving in south-west Britain. Newquay City Council is due to discuss the plan next week, but a sticking point could be the cost of installation and maintenance. The council will be responsible for the cost of installing the piece, including transport and the creation of a concrete base, as well as security. One report put the cost to Newquay at £20,000. He adds: “It is expected that the current maintenance costs, for things like electricity, cleaning and insurance, will be estimated at £2,500 a year.” Six hundred residents – about 3% of the population – participated in a survey of the statue this summer. Of these, about two-thirds were in favor and one-third against. Monique Collins, the manager of Disc, a provision and equity center in Newquay, said she felt some who voiced their support did not realize the cost to the town. “To levy council tax on a statue when so many people are struggling to eat properly or pay their bills is ridiculous,” he said. Kate Larsen, a Green party councillor, said: “It’s not right when this money can be spent on people who are really struggling in a cost of living crisis. I’m all for the beauty of the city, but I’d rather the funds go to ensuring that low paid council workers and contractors earn a real living wage and that we support local charities that help people through this perfect storm of stressful housing challenges, costs energy is increasing and inflation is increasing”. The Keogh Foundation, founded by Newquay surfing pioneers Stuart and Cherry Keogh, says the statue would be a fitting reminder of the role Newquay has played in the British surfing scene. He points out that it has been backed by other Newquay surfing greats and Visit Cornwall has estimated the publicity it would generate could be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds a year. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Stuart Keogh said the cost quoted by the council was significantly higher than the foundation’s figures and there was widespread support for an “iconic structure that pays tribute to the deep and meaningful heritage of surf culture in Newquay”. He added: “He is wholeheartedly supported by the people of Newquay.”
