I recently received a reply to an email I sent to one of our local repesentatives answering some of my queries. Apparently the structure is a representation of a sail and is meant to refer to "maritime associations" with Whiteabbey village. The total cost of the structure was £35,000 of which Newtownabbey ratepayers paid 25%, the rest being funded from a European budget designed to improve "the potential of coastal locations as places to stop and visit".
The councillor from whom I obtained this information informed me that a number of people had commented upon the structure to him. Indeed many people have commented upon it to me - but not in a complimentary way.
I would be interested to know whether any other ratepayers in the Borough agree with me that this expensive "artwork" is a folly and waste of public money which should have been spent on more beneficial projects within Newtownabbey.
P. Andrews
Jordanstown