RIVAL councillors have once more clashed over a public art strategy in Blackburn and Darwen, which has seen a stonework naked man and a metal beehive unveiled in the borough.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors repeated their attacks on the strategy at a meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council's regeneration committee.

The metal beehive was unveiled during the spring on a roundabout leading to the Shadsworth estate, while the naked man, carving the borough crest into the ground, was recently unveiled at the junction of Lower Eccleshill link road and the M65.

Liberal Democrat Coun Paul Browne said: "The money that has been spent so far has been an utter waste of time and I think the majority of people in this town agree with me.

Conservative Coun Fred Slater said: "This is cloud cuckoo land. Who the hell is going to come and look at things like this.

"We should be proud of our heritage in Blackburn and Darwen and we should look to it."

Labour Coun Don Rishton said: "The one thing we should remember about the past in this town is the misery there has been for working class people.

"We should not be having memorabilia of those times."

Regeneration Committee chairman Coun Andy Kay, said opinions would differ on each public art project in the borough and that the idea is to challenge people's thoughts.

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