HE has only just seen his latest statue take pride of place, but it is the future of some of the Capital's most famous monuments a top city sculptor has turned his attentions to.
Edinburgh-born artist Alexander Stoddart – whose work includes the Adam Smith statue on the Royal Mile unveiled last week – has spoken of his fears about plans to move statues of George IV and William Pitt from George Street as part of the tram scheme. The two 19th century statues present an obstacle for the hundreds of buses which are to be diverted on to the street when Princes Street closes to traffic next year.
City leaders and tram firm TIE insist the plan is still to only remove the statues temporarily, store and clean them and then return them to their original locations.
But Mr Stoddart – whose work also includes statues of David Hume on the Royal Mile and Robert Louis Stevenson at Corstorphine – said tram firm TIE should find another way to work around the statues.
He said: "I have grave concerns because once they have these things out of the ground there is a real chance they will not go back. One of the big problems is that moving the statues is very dangerous. It is not like you just lift them out and give them a quick scrub down. They are works of art and needed to be treated as such.
"I would be very wary of any project to remove the statues. I think as a city Edinburgh does appreciate its art but we need to stand up against the malignant forces which do not care less about these statues."
The statue of George IV on the junction of George Street and Hanover Street was erected as part of commemorations to mark the visit of the King to Edinburgh in 1822, while at the junction of Frederick Street, a bronze statue of prime minister William Pitt the Younger has stood since 1833.
A number of other famous landmarks across the Capital are also making temporary and permanent moves as a result of the work. These include Eduardo Paolozzi's "Big Foot" sculpture at the top of Leith Walk, the statue of Sherlock Holmes on Picardy Place and the Heart of Midlothian War Memorial at Haymarket.
A spokesman for TIE said: "The monuments on George Street will be preserved and reinstated as we have promised. While we appreciate the concerns there has been no change to the agreed plan for these statues."
A council spokeswoman said: "The finalised temporary traffic management arrangements, along George Street while tramworks go on, have still to be decided. Our goal is to preserve the statues and if we can ensure their safety in situ then we will endeavour to do so.
"However if we feel that their short-term removal is the best option then we will do that and I can assure that they will return when works are completed."
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