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King Bladud's pigs cause controversy in Bath
Added: (Mon Apr 28 2008)
A hilarious plan to bring a herd of painted swine into Bath's city centre in the name of art has caused consternation among council officials. Apparently it is felt by some that the pigs would be "inappropriate" and "damaging to the city's character".
The brightly coloured models have been designed to interest summer tourists, engage people with the history of Bath, and raise large sums of money for charity. Over £20,000 has already been raised in sponsorship fees, which will have to be returned if the conservative elements of the council have their way.
I was lucky enough to see one of the pigs close-up at a BBWA networking event last week. Beautifully decorated by one of the members, it will certainly stand out against the backdrop of Bath stone-clad town houses. Joined by a herd of similarly decorated brethren, the sight may turn out to be in turns comical, bizarre and possibly pointless. The idea gets my thumbs up though!