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Andy Barnes, councillor for the Billericay East ward, revealed councillors are discussing alternative plans after the theft of the “Child in the Park” from Lake Meadows on September 1. However, he said it was unlikely a similar statue would be installed in case it was targeted by crooks again. The statue, which was installed in 2000, was previously taken in 2017 but was found just three months later and returned to the park.
Mr Barnes said: “I think we were extremely fortunate to find it the first time around. We have started having conversations about what we’re going to do. “If you replace it, you attract the same problem.
We risk the same issue of it being stolen as before. We’re still hoping it might show up again. “We’re considering what to do.
We’re not necessarily replacing it, we’re considering what we will put in its place. “I think it would be a public work of art much like the original. I don’t believe it would be made of the same materials.
“If it were up to me, it would be something with artistic merit, but not material value which attracts thieves.” The council is still holding out hope the 24-year-old work will be found or returned, but admitted this did not seem likely. According to Mr Barnes, the council will be discussing the matter further in the coming months before a decision can be made and would consider replacing the statue if the community expressed a strong enough interest in doing so.
Andrew Schrader, councillor for Billericay East ward, previously called the theft of the statue last year an “outrage”. He encouraged anyone with information to contact Essex Police or Basildon Council to help with efforts to locate the statue. The statue was designed by artist John Doubleday.
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