Locals fume as council spend £6k on huge snail sculpture – which ‘actually looks like poo’

A £6,000 sculpture designed to imitate the tiny sea snail has been attacked by local residents who say it instead looks like a “giant poo emoji”.

People are being encouraged to visit the Periwinkle Shelter sculpture, made from Sussex and willow branches, at Earnley Viewpoint at Medmerry , near . But to people’s surprise, critics said that the £6,000 4.5 metre design actually looked like a “giant poo emoji”.

Solly Everett said: The idea of marking a rich coastal heritage of the south coast with a giant poo emoji is hilarious.

“But given the amount of raw sewage in the sea these days, perhaps it is entirely appropriate.”

Although many find the design funny, some say that its construction was “a huge waste of public money.”

Another visitor said: “I find it inconceivable that at no stage during the design of this massive sculpture, not one person put up their hand to say: ‘Excuse me, but it looks like a giant poo.’

“It’s all well and good spending large amounts of on public art but surely there should be more consultation over what it will look like.”

The Periwinkle Shelter was designed by local artists Rebecca and Mark Ford of Two Circles Design. Despite people being confused about its design, the sculpture is meant to reflect the area’s Bronze and Middle Age history, as archaeologists found periwinkles in the remains of a medieval fish basket during the creation of the Medmerry Nature Reserve.

Councillor John Cross, cabinet member for culture, sport and place at Chichester District Council, said: “The inspiration for the Periwinkle Shelter derives from archaeological excavations of the Medmerry site and tells a fascinating tale.

“Evidence was discovered of several circular Bronze Age roundhouses and burial grounds — dating from 1,100 BC — on the site, along with the remains of a medieval wooden ‘kettle’ to funnel and trap fish in a weir at low tide using wickerwork fences.

“This beautiful sculpture is woven from Sussex and Somerset willow and signifies both a glance back to the past and an acknowledgement of this new incarnation for the Medmerry landscape.”

The sculpture is the work of Culture Spark, a creative partnership between Chichester District Council, Chichester Festival Theatre and Pallant House Gallery.