Original thinking should be applauded, even in the case of the Marble Arch Mound

As Covid-19 restrictions ease, there have been plenty of calls from some quarters for cities and councils to get creative in finding ways to attract people back out.

You can argue that this is exactly what Westminster City Council was doing in commissioning the now-beleaguered Marble Arch Mound. The sales pitch was great, with the design offering views of Oxford Street, Hyde Park, Mayfair and Marylebone – with the hope of getting people back into the West End and increasing footfall. The reality has – so far – turned out to be a little different.

The deputy leader of the council has resigned after the total cost for the project nearly doubled from £3.3m to £6m. Originally opening on 26 July and set to remain in place until being taken down in January 2022, tickets for the mound cost between £4.50 and £8.

The artificial viewing platform temporarily closed days later, with ticket holders being offered refunds. It is now back open and free for the month of August before “fully” reopening in September.

The council’s leader, Rachael Robathan, said the rise in cost was “totally unacceptable” and that a review was under way to “understand what went wrong and ensure it never happens again”.

“The mound opened too early, and we have apologised for that,” Robathan added. “When the mound fully reopens in September, I hope that people will come and see it for themselves. The mound may delight or divide views and that’s OK.”

It has clearly been a humbling experience – and that rise in costs isn’t great at all. But a part of me wants to at least celebrate the thought, if certainly not the execution. In a difficult year, original thinking should be applauded – let’s hope the story of the Marble Arch Mound can be turned around.

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Voices editor