Parking fine for Hepworth statue

M Tech, a specialist moving firm from Herefordshire, had been given clearance by the council to park their low loader lorry and a support van in the town centre for the job of shifting the work of art by Dame Barbara Hepworth.

But as they got to work on removing the sculpture, believed to be worth about £500,000, a female parking attendant arrived and slapped tickets on both vehicles parking in Moor Lane.

Mr Andrew Capon, from M Tech, said: "I explained we had permission to park all day but she gave us the tickets and told us to contact the parking office.

"I think it was a case of one department not talking to the other."

Mr Capon and his driver Stuart Ives finally loaded the two metre tall cast iron green sculpture called Two Forms (Divided Circle) 1969, onto the lorry at 4pm.

It is being loaned to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in West Yorkshire for an exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Dame Barbara Hepworth, one of Britain's greatest sculptors.

A spokesman for Bolton Council said an investigation would be launched.

The work of art was bought for Bolton more than 20 years ago by the J B Gas charitable funds set up by local architect Bradshaw Gas and Hope, and with a grant from the Victoria and Albert Museum.

It is classed as an important piece and was one of six cast by the artist. The other five are scattered around the world.

It used to stand in the museum and was moved to its present home at the corner of Moor Lane to make way for a disabled lift.

Mr Jon Finch, collection services manager at the museum, said: "It is a fantastic sculpture. It is a piece which is meant to be outside.

"It will be on loan for five months and while it is away we will be asking the public where they think it should be situated when it returns."

What do you think? Where should this important piece of art be situated in the town? E-mail letters@boltoneveningnews.

co.uk.