A ring or a crown

Agreat iron ring, half-embedded in the hillside below Flint castle on the banks of the Dee, should never be constructed, opponents say, because it is “disrespectful to the people of Wales” by making reference to the Iron Ring of castles that Edward I built to subjugate the Welsh. The architect, with the suspiciously English name of George King, however, means the sculpture to represent a crown, and an unstable crown at that. It would mark the spot where Richard II agreed to abdicate in favour of Henry IV. Whatever it represents, the ring, 100ft across, is visually attractive and would afford interesting views for those who walked along its parapeted length. Unfortunately, it would also strongly attract mountain-bikers and skateboarders. These might scupper its chances where political opponents fail.