THE Proclaimers have joined hundreds in signing an open letter sent to all Edinburgh councillors, asking for a proposed Dr Elsie Inglis statue to be redesigned.
In a battle that has continued for years, signatories argue that the current design is a “misrepresentation of her legacy”.
Dr Elsie Inglis, who died in 1917, has been dubbed a “hero” for her life saving work in World War One and her contributions to maternity care.
Many are calling for the statue to be redesigned by a female sculptor instead of the commissioned artist, Alexander Stoddart.
Fundraising began for the statue in 2017, with an open call for artists sent out by charity A Statue for Elsie Inglis five years later.
Though many applied to be chosen to have their work memorialised in the statue, the call was soon called off and it was announced that the King’s Sculpture in Ordinary, Alexander Stoddart, would take on the piece instead.
Local sculptor Natasha Ingram-Phoenix has been tirelessly campaigning for the statue to be rethought, having created a public group to discuss the matter which now has over 960 members.
She states that the issue is important to her as: “I’ve got a background as a teacher and not only was I always a massive Elsie fan, but I was also really heavily involved in equality work.
“So the thought of kids walking past something that they engage with and they can touch and ask questions about makes me really happy. I just hope that happens.”
Yesterday, an open letter with over 1,000 signatures was sent to all councillors, expressing concern over the proposed design and its impact on Inglis’s legacy.
It asks for four changes to be made including a new commission through a “transparent, competitive process” similar to initial plans, an accurate reflection of Inglis’ “contributions to healthcare and gender equality”, and for “community engagement and educational outreach to be integrated into the project”.
Signatories include Charlie and Craig Reid, otherwise known as The Proclaimers, singer Karine Polwart, and authors Sara Sheridan and Val McDermid.
The Proclaimers made a statement on the issue yesterday, saying: “We are concerned about the focus on Elsie Inglis as a war time nurse, rather than on her lifelong commitment to women’s health.
“We also believe that there is insufficient attention being paid to the historical importance of the site in High Street.
“We wish the campaign success in bringing accuracy to the legacy of Elsie Inglis life.”
Campaigners are urging locals to object to the planning application for the sculpture, which will be placed ten metres north of High Street.
The application has 330 comments, 126 of which are objections, with public consultation closing on 4 April.
Numerous professors and academics have also added their names to the letter, such as the head of design history and theory at Glasgow School of Art, Nicholas Oddy, and Dr Kate Sloan, a lecturer in modern and contemporary art history at the University of Edinburgh.