The winning design for a piece of public art to commemorate the Suffragette who interrupted the Epsom Derby 100 years ago will finally be announced today.
Epsom Council wants to erect the monument, on a roundabout in Epsom Downs, as a tribute to Emily Davison, who died after being hit by the King’s horse in 1913, and other women who have helped achieve equality and votes for women.
Following a call to local artists, six proposals were displayed at the Ebbisham centre, which the public could vote for via a ballot box, until May 30, with an announcement on the winner due on June 4, the anniversary of Davison’s death.
But this was postponed after the council said votes for the two most popular designs were "too close to call".
The process has come under fire in recent weeks because of the failure to announce how many people voted and who got the most votes, a lack of pre-publicity about the vote, and the shortlisted pair, which some felt are too corporate and do not adequately represent the struggle of the Suffragettes.
Former Government statistician, Adele Rowe, wrote to the Epsom Guardian: "I am at best perplexed (and at worst dismayed) at the lack of information from the council.
"We have not even been told how many votes were cast - is this because there were only a few hundred?"
But a spokesman for the council said this week that the two finalists have been asked to "develop their ideas further" as the judging panel for the project - consisting of Councillor Clive Woodbridge, two Surrey artists and a representative from UCA Epsom - "could not decide between the two finalists".
He said: "The winner will be the entry that the panel feels is both strongest creatively and that best represents the legacy of Emily Davison, and what she fought for, both today and in the future.
"The public vote has been, and will be, taken into consideration.
"Once a winner has been chosen, there will be an official announcement on July 4 at the Ebbisham Centre.
"Planning permission will then be sought and fundraising will begin.
"The winning design will be on display at the Ebbisham Centre following the official announcement for a couple of weeks."
What do you think of the process and the two designs in the running? Leave a comment below or email Hardeep Matharu on the newsdesk on hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk.
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