Revised plans for a controversial artwork in Appleby have been put forward.
A proposal to install the 2.1m Gypsy Stallion sculpture on the west bank of the River Eden was thrown out by Westmorland & Furness Council in April because it would ‘visually compete’ with the Grade I listed Church of St Lawrence and the Grade II listed St Lawrence’s Bridge.
A new application has been submitted to place the statue, a donation from the Gypsy and Traveller community, on land off Roman Road.
The application, from Drive 2 Survive CIC, says outside of Appleby Horse Fair week, very little tangible evidence existed of the central importance of the fair to the town and its Gypsy and Traveller visitors.
It added the Gypsy and Traveller community would like to donate a public sculpture to the town of Appleby to make this “crucial” part of the town’s heritage more visible.
The application said: “It celebrates our history, culture and horses, and is intended as a thank you to the town for hosting an event that is like a spiritual pilgrimage for us.”
Ward councillor Andy Connell (Appleby and Brough, Lib Dems) said: “This is a much better option than the previously proposed site on the riverbank, and has the support of at least some local previous objectors.
“It will be a striking and handsome feature at the main entrance into the town. Allusion to the annual Appleby Horse Fair won’t be to everyone’s taste; but it happens and the town is renowned for it.”
However, a spokesman from the Appleby Fair Communities Group, said: “Many of the issues raised, and reasons for refusal, in the original application remain unresolved and still relevant, particularly the distress that this statue will cause to many local residents.
“For a significant portion of the community, the Appleby Fair is not a celebration but a source of disruption, anxiety, and hardship. Installing a permanent statue commemorating the event is highly likely to deepen these feelings and worsen community division.
“The group behind this statue have shown themselves to be tone deaf and either have not listened to the original feedback or simply don’t care.
“It appears they have ignored what many residents said and simply re-submitted their application for a different location, which I find quite bullish.
“The statue itself is little more than a Trojan horse — a supposed gift designed to impose an identity on the town that many do not recognise as their own, stamping ownership where none has been earned.
“It is certainly noteworthy that funding and effort can be readily found for a statue, with strong advocacy to ensure its installation, yet there seems to be no similar energy spent on funding the event itself.
“Instead, the expectation remains that local taxpayers will shoulder the burden. This is particularly jarring at a time when many residents are struggling to afford basic necessities, such as heating, while council tax continues to rise. The contrast is striking and unjust.”
