Nye gets spiky top to keep the seagulls at a distance
NHS founder Aneurin Bevan has had a Mohican-style makeover – a row of 30 spikes in his hair to stop birds landing on his city-centre statue.
The 15ft-high statue has been fitted with three strips of plastic spikes in his hair to stop his head being used as a toilet by pigeons and seagulls.
The statue of the former Minister for Health who set up the National Health Service has stood proudly at Cardiff ’s main shopping street for more than 30 years.
But it is suffering its own health crisis because of the birds landing on his head.
Supporters launched a campaign to make him appear more healthy – and officials came up with the Mohicanstyle strips of three rows of spikes.
Former nurse Carys Thomas, 43, said: “Never mind the National Health Service, Nye needs a bash-a-gull health service to keep the birds off.
“He is meant to look strong and proud, not covered in bird poo.”
Council officers were called on to help protect the historic statue to mark the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
Cardiff councillor Keith Jones said: “We have people coming here from all over the world and the statue itself is world-renowned.
“Residents have complained about it and the business community themselves have concerns about the state of it.
“The current state is just not good enough by anyone’s criteria.
“It’s an iconic statue and we want it to be in the best state it can be in.
“We’re going to look into how often it’s cleaned, manage how we can deter seagulls from the vicinity of the statue and anything else we can look at.
“There is such a universal well regard for him and the decisions he’s made for the legacy of future generations. What we’re trying to do with the statue is make sure it’s there for the future.”
The Welsh icon’s statue has become a prominent meeting point since it was first installed on Queen Street, and is often used as a gathering area for protests and demonstrations in the city centre.
Along with the hairstyle spikes, the statue will also get repainted gold lettering and and repointed base.
Cardiff council says it will “continue to monitor the situation” in the hope that the spikes will solve the statue headache.