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Widow's Grief vs. Giant Bull Sculpture Near Home
30 Nov
Summary
- Widow objects to bull sculpture near home after husband's fatal cattle attack.
- Council rejected pleas to relocate the four-ton steel bull artwork.
- Sculpture immortalizes agricultural heritage, but is a painful reminder.
A grieving widow, Wendy Pleasant, is distressed by Cumberland Council's decision to place a four-ton steel bull sculpture just fifty yards from her home. Her husband, Malcolm Flynn, died in 2020 after being trampled by a herd of cows during a countryside walk. The new bull sculpture, intended to honor Cumbria's agricultural heritage, is positioned directly in her line of sight when leaving her property, intensifying her pain.
Wendy has accused the council of being uncaring, recounting that her pleas were met with the response that she was 'just one person.' Despite a jury ruling Malcolm's death accidental, Wendy finds the council's decision insensitive. She has already endured significant disruption from the roadworks near her home, compounded by a recent cancer diagnosis, making the bull's placement feel like the 'crowning glory' of her difficulties.
Cumberland Council stated they have engaged with Mrs. Pleasant throughout the project, making adjustments and offering visits to the forge where the sculpture is being created. They maintain the location and subject were chosen based on community heritage and widespread support, independent of individual circumstances, and were not intended to cause distress. The council has committed to further engagement to explore ways to mitigate the impact.
