Marble Arch mound: politicians call for ‘embarrassing’ attraction to be axed

Politicians are calling for the controversial Marble Arch Mound to be removed as soon as possible, after it ran over budget.

Westminster City Council’s Labour Group is demanding the £6 million artificial hill to be taken down, calling it an embarrassment to the area.

The council commissioned Dutch architects MVRDV to build the pop-up attraction in a bid to attract more visitors to the borough.

The pop-up attraction, been dubbed “London’s worst attraction” and “a BTEC Eiffel Tower” by visitors, is expected to close in January 2022.

The mound has been widely mocked online, and charges to the mound were dropped by the council for good on August 31.

Labour Group leader Cllr Adam Hug said “The mound project has been a major embarrassment to the Westminster Council who have lost £6 million of taxpayers’ money.

“It highlights the incompetence and arrogance of a Conservative administration that has been in power for far too long.

“It’s time to get rid of the Conservatives and put the mound out of its misery.”

The Tory-led council’s deputy leader Melvyn Caplan resigned in August after it was revealed that the hill would cost triple its £2 million budget.

A light show opened inside the mound on September 10, seven weeks later than planned.

In a statement on its website, the Labour Group said: “The council has given up on trying to recover the cost of the mound and it remains an international embarrassment to the city.”

The group is calling for an independent review of the process that led to the spiralling costs of the project and claims councillors and Westminster resident were misled by the council’s political leadership on the matter.

It also wants the authority to pause all major spending on £150m West End District project that features significant spending on the Strand-Aldwich and piazzas at Oxford Circus.

Cllr Matthew Green, the council’s cabinet member for planning, business and licensing, said: “The Marble Arch Mound is drawing in crowds and supporting the recovery in this part of London, which is what we’ve always wanted and the reason we built the mound.

“We’re really pleased that 90,000 people have already visited, and I’m sure many more members of the public will make the trip to see this terrific light exhibition inside the mound.

“It’s a fantastic celebration of arts and culture, which are central to the City of Westminster’s unique role at the heart of London.”

The council is set to discuss the future of the mound and Labour’s proposal during a meeting on Wednesday.