A local authority has been blasted for its ‘horrendous’ and ‘disrespectful’ Covid-19 memorial site – where people can pay respect to those who lost their lives during the pandemic – which cost £100,000.
The ‘Remembering Together’ memorial in the form of a sculpture is supposed to be a tribute to the collective experience of loss and resilience during the pandemic, and aims to provide a quiet, peaceful space for reflection.
The sculpture, created by artist Caspar J Wilson, has emerged from a series of workshops and stories told across Falkirk, Scotland, where community members shared their thoughts, memories, and aspirations to create this permanent piece of art.
However, many locals in town are less than impressed by it, and say Falkirk Council should be ‘ashamed’ of themselves and there are even calls for its leader to resign.
A council source said: ‘It’s been referred to as a piece of art, but it looks more like someone has been to a scrap yard and picked pieces of metal out of a skip.
A local authority has been blasted for its ‘horrendous’ and ‘disrespectful’ Covid-19 memorial site
The ‘Remembering Together’ memorial in the form of a sculpture is supposed to be a tribute to the collective experience of loss and resilience during the pandemic
‘It’s embarrassing. It wouldn’t be so bad if the names of those who lost their lives in Falkirk during the pandemic were engraved on the metal.
‘I’m not surprised the public are angry about the design – it represents nothing. The family members of those who died during Covid weren’t even contacted about this. The council leader owes people a public apology.’
Remembering Together’ is national programme funded by the Scottish Government. Each local authority was awarded £100k to create ways of recognising the impact the pandemic had on peoples’ lives in local communities.
The sculpture, in Callander Park, is just days away from being finished, but taking to Facebook, many have already expressed their disgust.
One person commented: ‘Horrendous looking. It’s pieces of metal with nothing to do with the people who died during the pandemic. Falkirk Council should be ashamed at what they’ve done and are continuing to do to Falkirk.’
Another wrote: ‘The people we all lost during the pandemic deserve a much better looking memorial than this.’
A third said: ‘Who on earth in Falkirk Council commissioned this eyesore. Hope whoever did has a good read at the comments residents are putting forward and that individual should seriously consider resigning.’
Many locals in town are less than impressed by it, and say Falkirk Council should be ‘ashamed’ of themselves
The sculpture, created by artist Caspar J Wilson, has emerged from a series of workshops and stories told across Falkirk, Scotland
A forth added: ‘With all due respect it’s an eyesore and total waste of money. I can’t see anyone who lost someone going up to that thing.
‘Upside down chute? Crash barrier? I’m not seeing memorial there. What’s it supposed to be? Wasted money that could have gone to better use’, said a fifth.
Leader of Falkirk Council, Cecil Mieklejohn, responded to the backlash last night saying: ‘All councils were given funding to develop something by way of a Covid Memorial, and it was decided and designed by the community working with an external artist, there has been a host of activities over the last year or more involving all ages.
‘I think it will be a great addition to Callendar Park, with a quite area to sit by the lake to contemplate and remember for some, and to play in and out of the structure for kids and there is a connection with the Kelpies.
‘Please be mindful of those who were involved in the design and respect that.’
A short unveiling event will take place at the park on Saturday November, 16, from 12pm.
