Library art installation cost council £5,520

Peter King shows his piece entitled ‘Emily’

Rochdale Borough Council spent £5,520 on the piece of artwork that is being displayed in the new children’s library in the new riverside council offices.

The piece of art, which consists of a series of motion-sensitive book-shaped light-boxes suspending from the ceiling was unveiled in early May. 

Many residents of Rochdale don’t seem to be aware of the art installation and aren’t 100% sure what it is. When talking about the installation and its cost one woman simply gasped and described the cost as “stupid.”

This reaction was further supported by another Rochdale woman who said: “It’s stupid. Why spend money on art when people are starving. The money could have gone on a foodbank for the people who need food.”

Julie Barker from Home and More said: “There are better things the town needs money spent on. I haven’t seen it and I wouldn’t go out of my way to go and see it. The money could have been spent on the town, which is just a mess.”

Terry Barker added: “The roads into Rochdale are not very welcoming and it could have been spent on brightening up the town.” 

Rochdale Council, which recently came under fire after it was revealed that over £53,000 was spent on bringing the Olympic Torch to Rochdale, also spent £15,000 on the light fitting seen at the entrance to the new council offices.