Jill Borcherds, speaking on behalf of Cycling UK Stevenage, raised concerns at a meeting on Thursday (June 5) that placing the sculpture in the middle of a pedestrian and cyclist junction could cause safety issues.
The 2.5m-high sculpture — made up of three stacked rocks decorated with mosaics – was commissioned by the council from Junction 7 Creatives.
It will be located outside the entrance to the interchange, on the side of the building closest to the town centre.
Ailsa Davis, a planning officer at Stevenage Borough Council, said: “The brief [the artist] given was that it should be an artwork depicting a single point where hundreds and thousands of stories intersect over one spot.
“The idea of three stacked rocks comes from the cairn rocks, which are traditionally used as wayfinders and trail markers to guide travellers.
“It’s meant to be a symbol for Stevenage as a destination, and a landing point in a journey.
“On those rocks there will be mosaics … which will all tell a story with regards to Stevenage history and also personal journeys of the residents living in Stevenage.”
She said: “The concerns we are raising are entirely related to the location and certainly not the artwork itself.
“People approaching the junction from all directions need to be able to see each other to share the space safely.”
Cllr Lynda Guy suggested the “great” sculpture could be placed on the other side of the bus station rather than being “plonked” down in the intended location.
Similarly, Cllr Stephen Booth said: “It might be a good idea in this case if we rejected this application but stated that we like the idea of the sculpture and perhaps … it could be relocated to front the actual bus station so that passersby, motorists … will see it and it would be a more suitable location.”
Ms Davis said the council had “consulted both the highways authority and the council’s engineering section” and had been told that the intended location for the sculpture would meet guidance for the space left between the sculpture and the edges of footpaths.
Cllr Robert Boyle said: “While I do accept the concerns, I think the point of public art is you put it where people are. The point that this is a busy thoroughfare is why it is a good candidate site for the art. We can’t hide everything away for that reason.”
His view was echoed by Cllr Julie Ashley-Wren, who said the statue would be a “really positive addition to the area” and added: “It should be something everyone can access, young children, older people, just being able to look at it up close rather than passing it as you zoom past.”
The plans for the statue were approved by nine votes to three.
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