Billericay and Wickford councillors have launched a stinging attack on plans to lavish £25,000 on a statue for Basildon town centre.

The scheme won the backing of the committee's Labour and Liberal Democrat members, but Billericay and Wickford's Conservative councillors attacked the plan, which has a budget of up to £25,000.

Group leader and Wickford Cllr Malcolm Buckley said: "Many people in the district will think £25,000 for a sculpture is a waste of money, and I agree with them.

"The council should be using the money for the benefit of the community, not some icon upon which the Labour Party can lavish themselves as local benefactors.

"Of course the arts have a value to the community, but it is not the council's responsibility to provide art, particularly when services are still being cut to meet financial constraints."

The Labour controlled council's community arts sub committee last week began the search for a sculptor for the piece, which will stand on a plinth on a raised grass bank.

The four best designs will be put on display towards the end of the year to allow the public to make comments before the final decision next year.

Cllr Loraine Rossati, chairman of the committee said: "The pull of the site is such that we have already had 50 artists from all over the country express an interest in creating a piece of public art for Basildon town centre.

"With the process and the brief we have adopted I am confident the people of Basildon will have a piece of art work that they can be proud of and will add even more colour and interest in the regenerated Town Square."

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