New College withdraws MG motor centenary statue plan

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 21:08 · Archive

New College Oxford has withdrawn plans to install a statue commemorating 100 years since the first MG motor car was designed and manufactured at the site.

New College Oxford has withdrawn its planning application for a sculpture to mark the centenary of the first MG motor car. The statue was intended to be placed in New College's Morris Garage quad, where the first MG motors were designed and manufactured by Cecil Kimber. The college commissioned artist Paul Day to create the piece to "record this event which was so significant in the history of Oxford and its growth as a substantial industrial city".

MG left the Longwall garage in 1930, relocating to Abingdon. The site has been used by New College as student accommodation since the 1980s. The college's warden and fellows had argued that the sculpture would "finish off" the Morris Garage quad, providing focus and reference to the site's industrial heritage. Inside New College, they noted, there was previously no acknowledgement of this important history.

Oxford City Council's director of planning confirmed in a decision notice that the application had been "treated as withdrawn". No reason for the withdrawal has been given.

New College withdraws MG motor centenary statue plan — Image: Oxford Mail

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How it is being reported

Oxford University college centenary MG motor statue plan 'withdrawn'An Oxford New College plan to install a sculpture commissioned for the 100th anniversary of the first MG motor car has been withdrawn.Oxford Mail · 2 Nov, 20:00
Oxford University college centenary MG motor statue plan 'withdrawn'An Oxford New College plan to install a sculpture commissioned for the 100th anniversary of the first MG motor car has been withdrawn.Oxfordshire Guardian · 2 Nov, 20:00

In this story: New College Oxford · Oxford · Cecil Kimber · Paul Day · MG · Abingdon

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