bourbiza mohamed
The BBC’s spend on repairing a statue by paedophile sculptor Eric Gill has now soared to almost £220,000, despite campaigners having called for it to be taken down.
New figures show the cost of the restoration is now nearly five times the previously declared figure by the broadcaster.
One campaigner against sexual abuse branded the spending ‘outrageous’ and a ‘total disgrace’, accusing the corporation of ‘disregarding’ the feelings of victims of paedophiles.
The restoration work comes after the Prospero and Ariel sculpture, which is located outside Broadcasting House in central London, was attacked twice by protesters.
It was revealed last year that the cost of phase one work had been £40,782, with a further £7,255 spent on the ‘continuation of scaffolding hire and licensing’ between the first and second parts of the work.
But new information released under Freedom of Information rules reveals the costs have spiralled since then and now stand at £219,880, not including VAT.
Eric Gill, who died in 1940, had been a highly respected 20th century artist – but when his diaries were published after his death, it was revealed he sexually abused his daughters and a dog
The restoration work comes after the Prospero and Ariel sculpture, which is located outside Broadcasting House in central London, was attacked twice by protesters
The BBC ’s spend on repairing a statue by paedophile sculptor Eric Gill has now soared to almost £220,000, despite campaigners having called for it to be taken down. New figures show the cost of the restoration is now nearly five times the previously declared figure by the broadcaster
Marilyn Hawes (pictured), chief executive of campaign group Freedom From Abuse, said: ‘It’s outrageous – I have no printable words – it’s a total disgrace and disregarding anyone who has suffered at the hands of a paedophile. Furthermore, what message are they attempting to say? I may not watch BBC again to be honest it disgusts me’
This does not even include the projected further spend of nearly £90,000 on a protective screen for the 1930s statue, once restoration work is finished.
In its response to the Mail’s request for information, the BBC said the ‘project to fully repair and restore the statue is still ongoing’.
It also said: ‘The total cost of the work undertaken to date is £219,880 (excluding VAT).
‘This value includes the total cost of all stonemasonry works, scaffolding hire and licensing, planning application costs and feasibility studies undertaken.
‘Please note that this value is inclusive of the first phase expenditure of £40,782, and the cost of £7,255 which covered the continuation of scaffolding hire and licensing between the first and second phase of restoration work….’
But the growing spend on the controversial carvings is being meet with huge anger from critics.
Marilyn Hawes, Chief Executive of campaign group Freedom from Abuse, said: ‘If it wasn’t already bad enough, maybe BBC would like to give TV licences away if they can be so cavalier with their funds!
‘It’s outrageous – I have no printable words – it’s a total disgrace and disregarding anyone who has suffered at the hands of a paedophile. Furthermore, what message are they attempting to say? I may not watch BBC again to be honest it disgusts me.’
The BBC said a ‘key’ part of the work was removing fragments caused by the damage which ‘could be dislodged in the future’.
Work completed so far has included the removal of graffiti, recreating ‘broken sections of statuary’ and repairing the faces of both figures.
In its response the corporation stressed it ‘does not condone the views or actions of Eric Gill’.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the BBC is planning to spend £89,000 on a 13ft by 9ft glazed screen to protect the sculpture once the work is done. It is seeking planning permission for the screen.
The sum includes ‘fixings’, ‘licensing’, ‘scaffolding hire’ and ‘installation costs’.
Gill, who died in 1940, had been a highly respected 20th century artist – but when his diaries were published after his death, it was revealed he sexually abused his daughters and a dog.
The BBC sculpture, which is Grade II listed, portrays the characters of Prospero and Ariel from Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
Repair work from the first attack in 2022, started in May last year, before a person wielding a hammer launched a new assault on the sculpture.
The BBC said: ‘The BBC in no way condones Gill’s abusive behaviour. Having sought expert advice and opinion, we are repairing the facade in line with the building’s Grade II-listed status.’
