RNLI sculpture moved from St Ives as Perranporth 'rightful home'

Last month we reported that the statue was due to be installed on a beach in St Ives to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the RNLI lifeguard service. This was despite St Ives Town Council objecting and saying it would be in the wrong place.

It appears the RNLI listened, as it has now been announced that the sculpture will not be unveiled in St Ives, but on a beach further up the north Cornish coast.

Cornwall Council originally approved a planning application by the RNLI in September for the commemorative public work of art on the rocky foreshore at Porthmeor beach, St Ives.

The bronze sculpture by Zennor-based artist Holly Bendall, entitled Let Not The Deep Swallow Me Up, depicts a female RNLI lifeguard standing watch over the sea.

A person replicates where the statue was to have been installed on Porthmeor beach in St Ives, left, with the bronze sculpture of RNLI lifeguard Sophie Grant-Crookston pictured in the foundry (Image: RNLI/Holly Bendall)

The planning application stated: “The artwork has a direct and meaningful connection to St Ives and Cornwall’s wider maritime heritage. It is inspired by the actions of local RNLI lifeguard Sophie Grant-Crookston, who, in 2006, carried out a courageous swim rescue to save a surfer’s life and became the first female lifeguard to receive a Medal of Gallantry in recognition of her bravery.”

However, Sophie’s act of heroism actually took place at Perranporth, not St Ives, which St Ives Town Council pointed out in its opposition to the sculpture being installed in the town.

St Ives’ council objected at the end of August, stating: “The council fully supports the aims of the RNLI in seeking to mark this important anniversary and also the commission by a local artist. Concerns relate specifically to the design process, design and the relationship with the town of St Ives.

“There is little evidence of any meaningful consultation or that a specific design process for this piece in this location has been followed.

"The figurative portrayal of an important local RNLI lifesaver is related to another Cornish town and the selection of St Ives as a location to mark the anniversary appears to have been arbitrary.”

Ms Bendall told us in September that she and the RNLI were ‘disheartened’ by the town council’s opposition, but were now looking forward to seeing the sculpture become “a lasting tribute to the RNLI and the community it serves”.

There has now been a U-turn. St Ives Town Council has verified that the sculpture will no longer be situated at Porthmeor or anywhere else in the town.

Cllr Paul Viney, chair of St Ives Town Council’s planning committee, said: “The town council fully supports the amazing work of the RNLI including their outstanding record of bravery and saving lives. However, it does not follow that a planning decision must support a proposed sculpture, however important the cause.

“The planning committee felt that the scale and design of the commemorative sculpture did not enhance the proposed setting on Porthmeor beach and the narrative and the figure depicted were not related in anyway to the town of St Ives and, therefore, what would have been an important piece of public art did not have a sense of place.

“This is what the planning committee discussed and took the difficult decision not to support the application.

Holly Bendall's sculpture, pictured at the foundr, will no longer be installed on Porthmeor beach in St Ives as planned.

"Subsequently, the application was granted planning permission by Cornwall Council, but we now understand that the sculpture will not be sited in St Ives but in the village of Perranporth, the home of the lifesaver depicted in the design.

"We are pleased that this important piece has found its rightful home.”

Cllr Andrew Mitchell, who represents St Ives on Cornwall Council, posted on social media: “This is still generating much concern and questions locally. Although I have the greatest respect for the organisation and the amazing people who serve heroically, I personally thought this statue was definitely the wrong thing in the wrong place.

“I can confirm that although Cornwall Council granted planning permission on an officer decision, the RNLI is no longer going to proceed at Porthmeor and have negotiated with Perranzabuloe Parish Council to have the statue placed there as the lifesaver’s home town.

"I think common sense has prevailed and thank the RNLI for this decision and all they do.”

However, according to the RNLI a final location for the sculpture has yet to be decided. A spokesperson told us: “Several coastal locations are being considered as possible sites for the sculpture. A variety of factors are being taken into account. A final decision is yet to be made.”

Perranzabuloe Parish Council is currently unable to verify if the sculpture will be unveiled on Perranporth beach or a nearby location.