Council reaches deal over famous artwork siting

A special licence has had to be secured by a council to keep a city's famous artwork in place.

Due to the ownership of the land, Liverpool City Council has had to take out special terms with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) to keep superlambanana in place for another three years.

Since its creation in 1998, the bright yellow installation has become a symbol of Liverpool.

Th sculpture, which combines two of the city’s most common cargo in its trading days, a banana and a lamb, was initially moved around the city.

The superlambanana was first seen before the turn of the century as part of an initiative to create "a corridor of art" through the north of England.

It was previously sited at Williamson Square and Wapping in the city but it found a permanent home on Tithebarn Street.

It was replaced by a replica in 2019 after more than 20 years of wear and tear.

The artwork, by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo, was introduced to coincide with the reopening of the Tate Gallery at the Albert Dock.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that the council and the university’s learning resource centre development had agreed terms for the superlambanana to stay after a former agreement almost five years ago had ran out.

The new terms ensure the artwork stays at the edge of the city centre until at least December 2027.

The council needs to pay fees of more than £1,200 to LJMU along with its legal and surveyor fees connected to granting this licence.

A report outlining the decision made by council officers said there were no other direct financial implications for the authority.

However, it said there could be "a potential future cost upon termination or expiry of the agreement as the council is required under the conditions of the licence to reinstate the property upon removal of the SLB replica".