Aylesbury's David Bowie statue is go!

The David Bowie statue gets approval from AVDC - pictured at The Arches, the site it will be erected are Cllr Steve Bowles, Cllr Angela Macpherson, Diana Fawcett - town centre manager and David Stopps of Friars PNL-161108-143451009

Following a meeting last week with sculptor Andrew Sinclair, Aylesbury town centre manager Diana Fawcett, AVDC head of Aylesbury Development Teresa Lane, and AVDC deputy leader Councillor Steve Bowles, a letter has been written to campaign leader David Stopps giving the official go ahead for the work of art.

The statue will be sited on the law courts’ side of the arches where flowers were placed last January following Bowie’s untimely death.

Mr Stopps said: “ We are absolutely delighted that permission has been granted for the statue to be positioned in exactly the spot we wanted.

“AVDC have made it clear from the start that no council taxpayers money could be used for the project so we now have the task of raising in the region of £150K.

“The statue itself will cost around £100K but we will need to have a fund to maintain and insure it etc.”

He added: “With any luck it will the first statue of David Bowie in the world. We would like to thank Aylesbury Vale District Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Aylesbury Town Council and the 2,000+ people who signed the petition for being so supportive. It was very important to us to have everyone on board.”

David Bowie championed Aylesbury as a touring stop during his early career, choosing the town to debut his Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust albums.

He also referenced Aylesbury in his song Five Years, and encouraged other acts to play, including Iggy Pop.

Councillor Steve Bowles, deputy leader of AVDC praised the scheme, he said “It was good to meet again with David and sculptor Andrew Sinclair whose body of work is most impressive – it’s exciting to have one of Britain’s best sculptors involved with this project.

“The Aylesbury Town Centre Plan sets out a vision for the town which includes celebrating and building on the town’s reputation for entertainment and the arts.

“The David Bowie statue project complements this so we’re pleased to give permission for the statue to be  located on its land under the arches at the bottom of  Market Square.”