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Mr Potato Head banned from Belper bus station | Mr Potato Head banned from Belper bus station |
(34 minutes later) | |
A 7ft (2m) glass fibre statue of Mr Potato Head will not be displayed at a Derbyshire town's bus station due to health and safety reasons. | A 7ft (2m) glass fibre statue of Mr Potato Head will not be displayed at a Derbyshire town's bus station due to health and safety reasons. |
The figure was given to Belper, in Derbyshire, in 2001, by its twin town of Pawtucket in Rhode Island, USA. | The figure was given to Belper, in Derbyshire, in 2001, by its twin town of Pawtucket in Rhode Island, USA. |
The town is divided over the statue, with some describing it as "hideous". | The town is divided over the statue, with some describing it as "hideous". |
John Nelson, leader of Belper Town Council, said the station was just one possible location but could not happen due to the threat of high winds. | John Nelson, leader of Belper Town Council, said the station was just one possible location but could not happen due to the threat of high winds. |
The statue, based on the children's toy that originated in Pawtucket in the 1950s, had bits deliberately broken off when it was first displayed in the town. | |
It has since been refurbished by a local youth group and now stands on a pallet on the lawn of Belper Community Cottage, facing the bus station. | It has since been refurbished by a local youth group and now stands on a pallet on the lawn of Belper Community Cottage, facing the bus station. |
Mr Nelson said it would stay there permanently unless needed for special events. | Mr Nelson said it would stay there permanently unless needed for special events. |
"He wasn't meant to be on the bus station," he said. | "He wasn't meant to be on the bus station," he said. |
"It was an idea we had to put him up there so he wouldn't get vandalised. | "It was an idea we had to put him up there so he wouldn't get vandalised. |
"[But] if he was up there and the wind got hold of him... so risk assessment said no, it's not the place to be." | "[But] if he was up there and the wind got hold of him... so risk assessment said no, it's not the place to be." |
Some residents have argued the statue was not in keeping with the town's status as part of a Unesco World Heritage site. | Some residents have argued the statue was not in keeping with the town's status as part of a Unesco World Heritage site. |
An area stretching from Cromford, along the River Derwent to Darley Abbey, was granted World Heritage status by Unesco in 2001 because of its important industrial heritage. | An area stretching from Cromford, along the River Derwent to Darley Abbey, was granted World Heritage status by Unesco in 2001 because of its important industrial heritage. |
Mr Nelson has admitted in the past that Mr Potato Head divided opinion but said since it returned he has noticed many people have had photographs taken with it. | Mr Nelson has admitted in the past that Mr Potato Head divided opinion but said since it returned he has noticed many people have had photographs taken with it. |
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