St Austell Votes to Ditch Giant Earth Goddess Statue—Drama in the Town Square!

In the town of St Austell, a large and colorful statue called the Earth Goddess has become the center of a big debate. The statue, which stands 38 feet tall, was put up in June 2022 as part of a project to celebrate the town's history with china clay. The artist, Sandy Brown, created the statue using bright colors and wide yellow arms, making it the tallest ceramic sculpture in the United Kingdom. The project cost £80,000 and was meant to help make the town more interesting and attract visitors. However, many people in St Austell are not happy with the statue.

Recently, the St Austell Town Team did a survey to find out what people think about the Earth Goddess. Nearly 500 people answered the survey, and about 90% said they wanted the statue to be removed and put somewhere else. Jake Richards, who owns a cafe and is the chair of the Town Team, said that people complain about the statue almost every week in his cafe. He explained that the main reason people do not like the statue is because it does not fit in with the rest of the town. Some people feel that the money spent on the statue could have been used for other things, and they are frustrated that they were not asked about it before it was put up.

Even though most people want the statue moved, there are some who like it. They say it is bright, unique, and gives people something to talk about. Some people think the problem is not the statue itself, but where it is placed. They have suggested moving it to places like the Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, or Wheal Martyn Clay Works, as well as parks and gardens. The artist, Sandy Brown, is disappointed that people want to move her work. She says it would be very difficult and expensive to move because it is made of many parts and has a metal structure inside. Now, the leaders in St Austell are looking at what to do next. They want to make sure that any decision about the statue reflects what the community wants. This is not the first time the Earth Goddess has caused problems. When it was first put up, some religious leaders said the statue was offensive and wanted it removed or renamed. The Town Team says they will share the results of the survey and work with others to decide what happens next.