A local council has come under fire for spending £35,000 of taxpayers‘ money on two corgi statues in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. The stone corgis have been displayed in Walsall as part of its Arboretum’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
However, many locals have questioned the expenditure, suggesting the money could have been better used elsewhere, especially as the council is looking to cut £20m from its budget this year. Residents also highlighted the recent 4.99 per cent increase in council tax and expressed confusion over the purpose of the 5ft long commemorative corgi statues.
Tracey Wilkins, 55, from Blakenall, Walsall, commented: “I like them, but it’s a bit controversial, isn’t it? ” She added: “£35,000 the council spent on these sculptures. It could have just been better spent elsewhere.” She listed issues such as potholes, fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour, and failing high streets as areas where the funds could have been more effectively utilised.
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Daniel Taylor, 32, from Ryecroft, Walsall, said: “They’re nice, it looks like they did good work on them. I’m not really sure what they are for though.” He suggested that a plaque or some form of explanation would be helpful for people to understand their significance.
Jonathan Edia, a researcher at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, stated: “Local taxpayers are sick of pointless public artworks.” He added: “While the intention behind the sculptures is well meaning, this brings no respite to Walsall residents who have seen their services slashed.”
Criticism and praise have followed Walsall Councils unveiling of new statues in homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II and her cherished pets. Local denizens took to social media to air their views, with one individual emphasising: “Walsall Council should get its priorities in order” On Facebook, a local resident remarked: “I could perhaps understand a statue of the late Queen, but her dogs? ” and continued questioning public spending by saying, “Spending on anything like this when services are being cut is ridiculous.”
Another chimed in with scepticism: “Have they really not got anything better to spend people’s money on? ” whilst a woman suggested the funds would have been better allocated, stating: “Could have put that money to animal shelters and rescues that full and not coping.”
However, not all reactions were negative; some voiced admiration for the statues, recognising them as a fine attribute to the serene arboretum. Claire Williams, 43, from Walsall, praised the figures: “They’re lovely, aren’t they? Just look at them – they’re a bit big for regular corgis, but they’re amazing.” She added, “I saw them when they were unveiled, they look really good.”
Other locals such as Jane Gough, 62, from Caldmore, commented: “They’re great. It’s a great way to commemorate the late Queen.” Paying tribute to the Queens affection for her dogs, she expressed: “She loved corgis. She adored them. It’s such a nice way to remember her memory.”
The arboretum holds historical significance as it featured in the Queens first official trip to Walsall since ascending to the throne in 1962. Councillor Garry Perry, leader of Walsall Council, regarded the statues as a significant achievement for the council during the unveiling ceremony, remarking: “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.”