Council Confirms 'Racist' Head Will Be Removed From Pub Sign

A 'racist' wooden sculpture is to be removed from a pub sign after more than 30,000 people signed a petition demanding it be pulled down.

Derbyshire Dales District Council says the image of a black head on the sign for The Green Man And Black's Head Inn, in Ashbourne, had become a 'public safety concern' and is keen to see it removed as quickly as possible.

According to reports, the sculpture is said to be the head of a servant boy who loved the town, however, many have said it is deeply offensive.

A spokesman for the authority said that other bodies and officials would need to be consulted before the image could be taken down but that it 'will happen soon'.

They said: "We're removing the head from the sign with immediate effect.

"We agree that the sign itself is not only a public safety concern right now but that this is an issue that requires urgent discussion and consultation.

Rod Kirkpatrick

"The sign was gifted to the District Council a number of years ago and is currently protected by a Grade II* structure listing.

"Legally, only Heritage England or the Secretary of State can remove this listing, which means we need to take on board the views of our own councillors and local people before taking forward any representations.

"This will happen soon."

It comes after more than 33,000 people signed an online petition for the image to be removed from the pub's sign.

Rebecca Jordan, who started the campaign on Change.org, said she was disgusted by its presence in the town and that it should have been torn down long ago.

Rod Kirkpatrick

She said: "This kind of disgusting racist imagery has NO place in 2020 and should have been removed many many years ago.

"It is harmful and instills a dangerously cavalier attitude towards this kind of caricature-style portrayal of black people that served to help keep them oppressed for hundreds of years.

"It is NOT an important part of Ashbourne's history and identity, it is a disgusting and shameful fixture that many of us are deeply opposed to.

"It needs to be removed."

It comes after the statue of 17th Century slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down by protesters at the Black Lives Matter demonstration in Bristol and thrown into the harbour.

The statue has been a controversial topic in Bristol for some time, with many people believing that it should be removed. That debate, it would seem, is now over.

Topics: UK News

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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