Council decides not to commission Shakespeare bust

Councillors also said that if any such sculpture was commissioned in the future, serious consideration should be made to employing a local artist.

Stratford mayor Cllr Tessa Bates said: “I think the cost puts me right off, with all the things we are doing at the moment we don’t need to spend £2,000-3,000 at this time.”

Cllr Jason Fojtik added: “The majority of the precept comes from local people, the money should be spent back in the town for local people, this proposal would be more appropriate for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to look at.”

Councillors voted not to pursue Mr Piccoli’s proposal but agreed to pass the artist’s details on to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.