A Welsh council has commissioned a commemorative structure to mark the beginning of Wales’ coastal path walk - but many passersby have said it looks like a baked potato. In March Monmouthshire County Council paid £6,000 to install the artwork which is supposed to resemble a pebble.
The gleaming pebble, created by artist Michael Johnson and which reads “croeso”, was officially unveiled on Monday, March 27 by television presenter Iolo Williams and former National Poet of Wales Ifor ap Glyn to mark the tenth anniversary of the path.
Monmouthshire council celebrated the unveiling with various videos on its social media channels. In one of the videos Iolo explains how the pebble is accompanied by a sound box which tells visitors about the path.
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When Iolo dramatically disrobed the pebble he was met with a couple of “oohs” followed by a modest applause. “Isn’t that beautiful,” he said. “I now announce this pebble open.”
But those that have passed the pebble soon began posting online that it looked more like a spud, while others were a little unimpressed at how much the local authority had spent on it. “I’m beans and cheese but the husband would prefer tuna mayo,” Emma Mee joked.
Lee Cook said: “We need more shops, not rocks or spuds wrapped in tin foil.” Wayne Cooper asked: “How much did this cost?”
The council has now said that the structure cost £6,000 to commission. A spokeswoman for the council said: “The funding for the Wales coast path improvements was part of the Welsh Government access improvement grant, for Monmouthshire County Council and Flintshire County Council. The artwork cost £6,000 and was commissioned and paid for by Flintshire County Council. Monmouthshire County Council paid £6,000 out of its access improvement grant to Flintshire County Council for this purpose.”
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