Recommendation to consult on relocating Buller Statue set to be withdrawn

Published: 1 February 2021

A recommendation to apply for planning permission and start a consultation on the possible relocation of Exeter’s Buller Statue is set to be withdrawn.

A report to next week’s Executive proposes removing a recommendation, originally proposed by a Council Task and Finish group, to apply for listing building consent for the relocation of the statue to an alternative location. That would have led to an opportunity for full public consultation on the issue.

But the report states that recent comments by Robert Jenrick MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, make it clear such applications are unlikely to be successful.

The Government recently revealed plans for a new law on cultural and historic heritage which will “make clear that historic monuments should be retained and explained’.  It would give the Secretary of State power to call in any application and ensure the law is followed.

Council Leader Phil Bialyk said: “In light of the comments by the Secretary of State my Executive will be asked to amend the recommendations, and we will not be submitting a planning application to relocate the Buller statue.

“But I must stress that we will be addressing the issues which first brought this to the attention of many councillors.

“There are a number of important recommendations about equality and diversity in our city that we will be taking forward. The Council should look to make sure we are doing all we can to be aware of the particular images and messages that public art and monuments may express, and strive to make these as representative of our inclusive and diverse communities as possible.” 

Members of the Council’s Executive will discuss the new report on Tuesday, 9 February.