Estate of the art is met by stony looks

The Capital’s latest landmark sculpture, created at a cost of 27,000, has been given pride of place on one of the city’s most deprived estates.

The 18ft tall sculpture, designed to represent King Arthur’s throne, was instigated by Edinburgh City Council to herald the regeneration of the Niddrie Mains area.

But the timing of its sudden appearance has left many people wondering whether it was an elaborate April Fools’ Day joke.

Some have condemned it as a "monstrosity" and a "complete waste" of money which would have been better spent on improving the local environment.

The sculpture was created by one of Scotland’s leading sculptors, Angus-based Doug Cocker, who won a competition to design a significant piece of work for the estate more than two years ago.

The 18ft tall structure was delivered to the estate yesterday and put in place at the junction of Hay Avenue and Niddrie Mains Road. Passers-by were mystified by the new feature. One passer-by, Paul Riley, 31, who has lived in Niddrie all his life, said: "I thought it was some kind of April Fools’ Day joke. I can’t believe this is supposed to be art."

Andy McDonald, manager of the Craigmillar Community Information Service and head of the Craigmillar Future Society, said: "I think it’s a sick joke. It’s complete slapstick and an assault on the senses.

"I don’t want to knock the sculptor and I’m all for talent being encouraged but it’s not going to go down well at all. I think it’s only a matter of time before it’ll be vandalised."

But council chiefs and art experts said they were "delighted" with the "inspiring" sculpture. The local authority and Communities Scotland paid 10,000 each, with the remainder of the 27,000 cost coming from developers involved in the regeneration of the area over recent years.

A number of tenements were demolished to make way for 205 new homes for rent and 88 affordable houses for sale. Other improvements have included a new play park and a purpose-built business centre. The area is already home to a sculpture of Gulliver by Jimmy Boyle and a pillar commemorating the mining history of Newcraighall.

A city council spokeswoman said: "The sculpture celebrates the regeneration of Craigmillar. We’re very pleased with the final result and hope residents will also enjoy the artwork. The community was heavily involved in choosing the design.

"One of the strong points of the proposal was that artwork by local children was to be engraved on to the four legs of the chair."

Arts impresario Richard Demarco, who was involved in choosing the winning design, said the sculpture - which was also said to represent the letter "h" for the word "here" - would restore the presence of King Arthur to the area and revive interest in stories surrounding his local links.

"It’s well known King Arthur spent time in Edinburgh. It was his throne and this sculpture will represent that. I think it’s a magnificent, staggering image which the people of the area will grow to love," he said.

However, Paul Nolan, a former Labour councillor for the area and a community representative on the Craigmillar Partnership agency, said: "You would think somebody is playing a massive April Fools’ joke but the joke is on the people of this area.

"It’s an absolute monstrosity, a complete waste of 27,000 and looks as if it will become a safety hazard as local kids are bound to try to play on it. What a joke."

City Tory councillor Alastair Paisley added: "I’m sure people would much rather the money was spent on environmental improvements to the area, the removal of graffiti and the repairing of potholes."