Marble Arch Mound: Westminster Council spent £660,000 pulling down maligned attraction

The £6million project went massively over budget and led to resignations before the decision was taken to pull it down.
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Westminster Council has spent £660,000 pulling down the infamous Marble Arch Mound.

The Marble Arch Mound was forced to offer refunds to visitors amid widespread disappointment and derision of the grass-clad viewing platform. Credit: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Marble Arch Mound was forced to offer refunds to visitors amid widespread disappointment and derision of the grass-clad viewing platform. Credit: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images
The Marble Arch Mound was forced to offer refunds to visitors amid widespread disappointment and derision of the grass-clad viewing platform. Credit: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images
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The project went massively over budget and led to resignations before the decision was taken to pull it down.

Westminster Council had hoped it would attract visitors back to the heart of the city

However, Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, the opposition Labour City Management spokesperson said the attraction did “nothing” to revive Oxford Street’s shops.

“The Conservatives claim that the Mound was built to attract shoppers back to Oxford Street.

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“But less than 1,400 people a day on average visited the Mound, even though it was free for the six months it was open.

“The business generated by just 1,400 people did nothing to revive Oxford Street’s shops.”

He added the "financial incompetence" was linked to cuts of £500,000 to adult social services and the threat of closing Mayfair Library to save £200,000 a year in rent.

A man walks past the Marble Arch Mound in London. The mound is a temporary installation overlooking Hyde Park and Oxford Street. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)A man walks past the Marble Arch Mound in London. The mound is a temporary installation overlooking Hyde Park and Oxford Street. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)
A man walks past the Marble Arch Mound in London. The mound is a temporary installation overlooking Hyde Park and Oxford Street. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

Westminster Council’s deputy leader Melvyn Caplan, who was responsible for the project, resigned from his role after total costs nearly tripled from an initial forecast of £2 million.

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A council spokesperson has said the £660,000 figure was included in a previously published cost of the project.

Debbie Jackson, the council’s Executive Director for Growth, Planning and Housing, said: “The cost of dismantling the Marble Arch Mound was included in the overall cost and this has not changed.

“The Marble Arch Mound drew crowds and supported the recovery in the West End.

“Around 250,000 visits were made to see The Mound and the terrific light exhibition over the six-month period.

“Those visitors went on to spend money in shops, bars and restaurants across the West End – helping local businesses to get back on their feet.”

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