THE Council is planning to introduce more artworks into the town centre, following a row over the cost of a bench installed in Peach Place.
Last week, Liberal Democrat councillors sent out a leaflet accusing Wokingham Borough Council of wasting £30,000 on the wooden slatted bench which is uniquely curved.
It has also been described as looking like a slug.
However, the cost of the bench, which the council says is closer to £22,000, was met by funding made by housing developers.
The funding used to be called Section 106 money and is designed to be spent on improving the borough in various ways including artworks, highways and building community facilities.
And council leader John Halsall believes that enhancing the environment around us, through trees, greenery and artworks, is important.
“Wokingham’s town centre deserves prestigious artworks,” he said. “This is a custom-designed piece for a prestigious location.
“We are trying to make Wokingham special, we have to experiment and do things which will serve us well.
“It’s not cost council tax payers anything, it’s Section 106 money, which is very much for community enhancements.”
More works are on the cards.
“We are working with arts groups to get more visual artworks into the town,” Cllr Halsall promised.
