Town's 'eyesore' new sculpture which cost £54,000 to build is branded 'some rusted metal with a head on top' by locals

Furious residents have lashed out at a £54,000 sculpture they say resembles 'some rusted metal with a head on top'. The clifftop artwork overlooking Bournemouth beach has been installed to 'reflect the town's seaside identity' and was 'inspired by the unique coastline'. According to the Liberal Democrat-run council, the sculpture was created in part by using schoolchildren's ideas. The statue appears to show the figurehead of a ship mounted on a bronze metal plinth, with three posts behind it possibly resembling Bournemouth pier. However, residents have reacted with fury over the artwork, situated on the town's West Cliff, which they branded a 'pile of scrap metal'. Pointing to the homelessness problem in the town, angry locals lashed out at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council for spending £54,000 on the 'eyesore' instead of funding people in need. One resident said: 'Are you actually joking! There's people starving, people on the streets, [...] horrendous road works, roads being made worse and you're putting up sculptures no one asked for, no one wanted, looks absolutely pathetic. 'Absolute waste of money! You should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves!' Bournemouth residents have reacted with fury over the council's decision to fund a £54,000 sculpture, named Lean into the Wind, near the beach. It has been branded an 'eyesore' The artwork is located on the town's West Cliff, just a short walk from Bournemouth beachAnother wrote: 'Brilliant three rusted steel beams concreted into the ground and a green head plonked on top. 'Seriously?! Let's get the fundamentals sorted. Money would be much better spent on hedge cutting, pothole filling, street lighting, bin emptying, jet washing etc. 'The town looks filthy, dirty and unkempt but let's spend (lots of money) on a useless piece of art although struggling to even call it that!'A third said: 'What the hell is it meant to be. I can think of more important things to spend £54,000 on e.g pot holes.'A fourth wrote: 'This is completely embarrassing and a total waste of taxpayers' money.'And a fifth said: 'BCP Council has absolutely lost the plot. Money is needed for our town.'Cleaning services, safety services, getting rid of homeless problems in town, fixing shops, not illegal vapes shops, nail bars. Proper shops that we can be proud of.' Meanwhile, others raged over the price of parking and litter in the town centre, as well as the airshow, which the local authority cancelled as it could no longer afford to manage popular events in the town. Some also compared the artwork to 'junk' that has appeared from a 'scrapyard'.Officials said the installation was funded externally by the UK Government Coastal Public Art & Heritage Trail, but critics argued this is still taxpayers' money.Former police officer Jo Keeling, a BCP community campaigner, said: 'I like art and recognise that public art can enhance a place but it is entirely reasonable to question whether this enormous structure represents value for money or the coastal improvement residents thought they were being promised.'Imagine what £54,000 could contribute towards along our coastline, repairing paths and steps, improving accessibility, restoring benches and shelters, upgrading tired public spaces, improving lighting or tackling the everyday deterioration residents and visitors can actually see.'Our coastline is already our greatest work of art. Residents are entitled to ask whether a £54,000 sculpture was really the best way to improve it.'They have said that because it was funded through a UK Government grant, there was 'no cost to local taxpayers'.'That is an extraordinary way to describe public money.'This may not have come directly from BCP council tax revenue but government grants still come from taxpayers including local taxpayers. It was not free.' The sculpture has been built to 'reflect the town's seaside identity' and was 'inspired by the unique coastline'BCP Council, which has the Liberal Democrats as its largest party, said at its unveiling that they were 'delighted' to welcome the 'striking new sculpture' to the town's West Cliff.Councillor Andy Martin, a Cabinet member, said: 'I am delighted to see Lean Into the Wind installed on West Cliff.'This striking new sculpture celebrates Bournemouth's unique coastline and identity.'The artwork forms part of our Coastal Public Art & Heritage Trail, which is helping more people discover and enjoy our coastline through free, accessible art and culture.'The project cost £54,000 and was fully funded through a UK Government grant, meaning there was no cost to local taxpayers.'BCP Council revealed last year that they are in £370million of debt.The shortfall has led to them cancelling popular events including the Bournemouth Air Festival as they can no longer afford to put them on.The Daily Mail has approached BCP Council for further comment.