Naked Greek statue could distract drivers in Hampshire village, resident complains
Hayley Dixon
23 April 2017 • 5:14pm
As the image of one the the greatest mathematicians of all time, a statue of Archimedes might be expected to inspire logic and reason.
However, one such sculpture is provoking a rather more passionate response in a Hampshire village, as residents claim that being able to see a naked Greek physicist from the road is in bad taste and could even cause an accident.
The row is dividing Ellisfield, near Basingstoke. One resident has demanded that Adrian de Ferranti, the son of a late Tory MP, remove the nine foot statue but others argue that it is art and people should be "inspired" by it.
Mr de Ferranti, who runs his own venture capital firm, has now applied for retrospective planning permission and is waiting to learn the fate of Archimedes.
The statue had belonged his father, Basil, the Tory MP and former Vice President of the European Parliament who was the MEP for the area until his death in 1988.
But when he adopted it and put it in on the corner of his land near the road, his neighbour Steven Gould was so incensed that he tipped off the council. He claims that the statue, which is illuminated at night, could not only cause offence but distract those travelling past it.
In a strongly worded letter to Basingstoke Council, Mr Gould said: "In my opinion and although some may consider the statue to be ‘art’ it is totally out of character and not in keeping with its current surroundings.
“This statue is illuminated at night and as such is both a potential distraction for drivers of vehicles driving down College Lane and again completely inappropriate in a rural area in my opinion.
“The very nature of the statue (a naked man) may seem to represent art to some but could also be seen as offensive to others.
“I do not wish to deprive the owner of the pleasure of enjoying something he obviously appreciates but feel that this would be far more appropriate if it were located within the grounds of (his house) where it would also be screened from the road and potential view of those who may take offence.
“As a resident of College Lane and someone who has walked up and down that lane on a reasonably regular basis over the last 54 years I hope you will be able to appreciate my point of view.”
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...tue-could-distract-drivers-hampshire-village/