Sculpture to go from Pill Park?

 

 

RESIDENTS in Portishead are calling for a sculpture in a town park to be removed because it has become a magnet for anti social behaviour.

People living in Port Marine say the 10ft high metal Viaggio sculpture, at Pill Park, constantly gets vandalised and is used as a meeting place by local teenagers.

The sculpture, which crosses over and looks like a cave, was put on the site as part of the Portishead Arts Trail.

It is understood it had to be moved to the park from a different part of the marina after residents complained it was being vandalised.

Residents say they are fed up with local teenagers using the sculpture as a den, meeting there to drink and cause chaos until the early hours.

They have also set the safety matting underneath it alight and covered it with obscene graffiti.

A Port Marine resident, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "The sculpture is a magnet for anti social behaviour.

"Because of the way it has been designed, youngsters can crawl under it and tend to use it as a meeting place.

"There has been paint thrown over it and the matting has been set alight and there is often evidence that teenagers have been drinking there.

"Obscene graffiti and pictures have been painted inside which can be seen by younger children and the plants in the park have been ripped up and shoved inside.

"We are fed up to the back teeth with the sculpture as it looks such a mess.

"We think the best idea is for it to be removed and the whole park area grassed over and tidied up to limit further vandal attacks."

Concerns about the sculpture were raised at a meeting of Portishead Police and Communities Together (PACT) group.

PACT chairman, Brian Clayton, said he had been down to inspect the site and talk to residents.

Mr Clayton said: "There are issues in the Pill Park area and problems with vandal attacks on the sculpture.

"Local residents raised their concerns with the PACT committee and we will be approaching Persimmon Homes with these concerns when we have carried out a full assessment of the area."

The park is owned by Persimmon Homes which is responsible for its maintenance.

Carl Haley, managing director for Persimmon Homes Severn Valley ,said: "Having installed the art work and numerous areas of public open space under the obligations as agreed with North Somerset Council, we are of course saddened to hear the news of any antisocial behaviour around the sculpture and will look into any complaints from residents.

"I would also urge concerned residents to contact the police who will be able to deal with this matter."