No frogs for Devizes

THOUGH British Waterways, against public objections to cash wasted on sculptures, still erected them on the Kennet & Avon Canal, it objects to anyone else having a sculpture by the waterway.

The latest one erected however, was not paid for by British Waterways, and  was installed on the lock flight at Bath.

Vetoed

But now now it objects to a Ball of Frogs sculpture, even though it is free, being erected by the town council at Devizes, stating that it would interfere with boating traffic, so have vetoed all the council's suggestions to erect it by the waterway.

The sculpture was commissioned at a cost of £13,000 for Devizes Millennium Celebrations 12 years ago! But has still not found a proper home.

Caen Hill flight

At first the Ball of Frogs that was  to be installed by the Kennet & Avon Canal in the centre of the town close to Town Bridge, but British Waterways objected, and have objected to subsequent locations including at the top of Caen Hill Flight.

It has been lying in the garden of sculptor Judy Boyt since 1999 when she first created it, with nowhere for it to go.

Simon Fisher, Deputy Town Clerk, complained:

"British Waterways didn't come up with an alternative on the canal so our thinking was we could install it as part of the refurbishment of Hillworth Park.

"But Judy insists it has to be seen emerging from water and that might not be possible. We are still looking."