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| Britain |
| Victory in Boar War |
| 2004-07-10 |
| An historic statue of a wild boar is to be reinstated in a Derby park in a move that has been hailed a "victory for people power". The decision to put the Florentine Boar statue back into Arboretum Park follows months of public outcry. Controversy was sparked after it was suggested by a Derby City Council committee that the statue should be put elsewhere for fear of upsetting Muslims, who regard pigs as unclean. The council had always hoped, as part of a £5.6m heritage lottery- funded project to restore the park to its former glory, to replace the statue with a replica. But in March the council’s minority ethnic communities advisory committee, chaired by Liberal Democrat council leader Maurice Burgess, instead recommended putting in a statue of the park’s architect, John Loudon. This prompted a tide of anger from residents in the area and from those who regard the boar as an integral part of Derby’s history. More than 2,000 people signed petitions to retain the boar, which had stood in the park from 1840 until it was damaged in a Second World War air raid in 1942. And the groundswell of public opinion has now forced the council to decide that the boar should be returned to the park. Mr Burgess said: "Because of the overwhelming public response, including people from the Muslim community, we’re advising the council’s parks department to get a replacement boar. "People have demanded it back - but I think they might rethink when they see how ugly the thing is. "I’m quite sure people will think it horrendous when they see it. Personally, I would have preferred a nice statue of Loudon, but we’ll listen to the people when there is overwhelming opinion." People who called for the boar to be reinstated have welcomed the news. Deputy council leader Philip Hickson said: "This is a victory of common sense over political correctness. It belongs here and the row that blew up was completely unnecessary." Historian Maxwell Craven said: "It’s a victory for people power and a victory for common sense. I’m very glad." Arboretum ward councillor Fareed Hussain said: "I think the council should consult local people and after consultation they should do what people want. It’s a local park for local people and if the majority want the statue, then I will go along with that." |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #1 YAY! Congrats, Bulldog! |
| Posted by: Wuzzalib 2004-07-10 8:39:19 PM |