Sir – I was surprised at your editorial comparison between Bill Heine’s sculptural achievement and the planned Anthony Gormley erection (Leader, February 5).
Bill Heine’s creation was the soul of originality, natural warmth and carefree style. On the other hand I find the proposed Gormley work dull, unduly Frinkesque and having a deadening ‘production’ feel.
I am tempted to suggest that the Anthony Gormley figure be turned through 180 degrees. This would create gesture, modesty and mystery simultaneously.
However, there is a better and fairly obvious solution to the matter. Oxford City Council should invite Bill Heine to be the city’s first Monument Czar.
Given a substantial salary, office and staff, plus a free hand perhaps he might be tempted. We could all then relax and let our Czar mastermind this and hopefully many more decisions.
This is surely a poacher to gamekeeper arrangement that would allow an adequate level of contentment to sweep over the powers that be?
Gerard van Dam, Eynsham
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