Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, writes about plans for the Capo sculpture after news this week that it is set to return to Festival Park.
“When I was first elected as the leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council in May 2023 I made a promise to our residents to rebuild the Capo sculpture.
Over the past two years or so, we’ve been working with Capo artist Vincent Woropay’s widow and two local businesses – Ibstock and Alliance Technical Services Ltd – on the reconstruction of the sculpture. There have been various unforeseen challenges along the way, such as trying to find the right type of brick and the financial cost, but thanks to a lot of hard work and negotiation we have finally got there.
There was, quite rightfully, a massive public outcry when the statue was demolished as part of the Etruria Valley Link Road project in 2023 but I am so pleased that we are able to re-instate this landmark sculpture – and unveil it during our Centenary year.
We’ve submitted a planning application in the hope Capo can be installed outside Etruria Hall, on Festival Park. After a lengthy discussion with Vincent Woropay’s family, we feel it is only right to return it as close to where it was before as possible – and Etruria Hall was Josiah Wedgwood’s former home after all.
If our plans are approved – and negotiations with the land owner are successful – we will unveil the statue later this year. This will be the third significant statue unveiling for Stoke-on-Trent in 2025, following the Lemmy statue unveiling in Burslem back in May and the newly-positioned Josiah Wedgwood statue which has been moved to a more prominent location outside Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station.
Our city stands on the shoulders of giants. It has produced some world-renowned legends in the last 100 years and beyond, so it’s only right that we honour them in this way.”
It is extremely encouraging seeing art and sculpture being developed as it around Stoke. Lemmy has bought thousands of people into Burslem as you know. The wonderful murals, statues and tidying up of the public realm will make a huge difference to Civic Pride. Great job Stoke CC. Credit due. May I suggest need more trees/planting and public seating would be excellent so people can dwell and enjoy the spaces. Perhaps we can encourage local communities to clean up the back alleys, litter pick and plant urban gardens. There must be a way to set up collectives. Let’s make Stoke a truly green, creative and enjoyable City to live. Well done again. Ed Bassett, Chair Stoke Youth Collective