Olympic torch sculpture like a giant Cornetto, say residents

A TOWERING sculpture in the style of an Olympic torch unveiled in a housing estate has left residents baffled, with one likening it to a giant Cornetto.

Residents of Andover described the artwork as a “monstrosity” that will end up “filled with junk”.

The 30ft (9.5m) high sliver metal torch – meant to be a “symbol of hope” for residents – was installed by the council in Hants, in a £69,000 “public art” project paid for by a housing company.

Residents said the Olympic theme had no connection to anything and was an “eyesore” with the money better spent elsewhere.

The sculpture, by artist Tim War, is in the urban park of the town’s Picket Twenty development, built by Persimmon Homes.

When planning permission was applied for, the designers said: “The ‘Torch’ sculpture represents a symbol of hope that guides, like a signal fire of old on a hill, of flaming tower or pole, people to the Urban Park.

“During the build-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games [the torch] was processed through the Picket Twenty Urban Park. The Torch design takes the form of sweeping ‘movement’ curves with kinetic elements,” they said. Construction

of Picket Twenty, formerly a hamlet, began in 2010 and the suburb consists of 1,200 homes. Test Valley borough council, based in Andover, used Facebook to introduce the artwork, located on sports pitches in a “new neighbourhood” within the town.

Trisha Williams, 39, a resident of the development, said the money should have been spent on roads. “It seems ridiculous they’re not more concerned about the roads, surely they could have used that money,” she said.

Describing the statue, Ms Williams added: “It a monstrosity in the middle of a field. It’s not associated with anything, it’s just a random piece of metal.”

Phil Marsden wrote “Just one Cornetto!” on Facebook, while Paul Watson added: “The cone will be filled with junk.” Luigi Gregori, a local councillor, said he believed a plaque explaining its purpose would improve the project.

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes said it hoped the art would create “a sense of pride” in the area.

The 30ft-high ‘symbol of hope’ Torch sculpture was described as a monstrosity