Adam Stephenson
This obviously illustrates that local authorities can no longer be trusted with our heritage or culture. Perhaps compulsory trusts should be imposed to take over assets of local authorities in their art galleries and museums in order to prevent similar sales in the future.
Alan H
Many people may not be aware that L S Lowery taught art in the early 1960,s at Bury art college, so the link wth artist and Bury is very strong.Its a pity that this will be severed, also lets not forget that this will be auctioned in November,is £500,000 the reserve price? how embarrassing if bids fall short of this figure.
John
Why don't the councilors dip into there own pockets to make up the short fall? They get more in expenses than most do in their wage packet!
BB
Surely they would get more than £500,000 by selling Gigg Lane to property developers. Let's face it, the painting is more valuable and probably more people go to see it!
CH
Sell it, its just a load of old tat anyway.
snixon
The children need the money more, but it is sad to see the picture go.
pat stockley
perhaps the people of Bury would prefer a tax hike? No that wouldn't sit well would it? So go ahead and sell! It's only a painting!
Philip Hulme
This is civic vandalism!
The council's emotive argument that this painting is being to help vulnerable children is simply an attempt to avoid responsibility for its own financial mismanagement. In terms of Bury's overall spending for the year, £500,000 is a drop in the ocean. If councillors can't balance the books this year, they won't be able to next year either. Or the year after that. Then what else will they sell?
Chris Ahern
It was not the Council's to sell, it was an asset which belonged to the people of Bury.
Lesley Hyde
The only reason Bury council is poorly funded is down to mis-management. Remember the investment of £6,000,000 that backfired.Keep the painting please.
Brian McCormick
what will they sell next year to pull them out when they over spend again???
Ian Boyd
There was only one Lowry!
There will always be children in need, no matter how much money you pour in a fund.
GT
I live in Bury and until all the controversy surrounding the sale I wasn't aware the Lowry existed. I think Bury should keep the painting and use the recent publicity to attract more vistirs to the town and associated income.
Peter Wright
This act just demonstrates that ‘voting’ for councillors to run towns and cities is about as stupid as it can get. Few of them could run a Christmas Club let alone a town or city. And Bury’s councillors have mis-managed their town for years.
Barb
The previous excuse was that the refurbishing of the Ramsbottom Library was over budget (surprise, surprise!).
David
Councils are in place to deliver public services - not to hoard art work.People living in Bury can now travel on the metro to a £100 million lowry gallery at Salford Quays and all this fuss about them selling the picture should be considered in the context of that...
STEVE WRIGHT
Bury Council will use every excuse to justify selling the only painting they can. The basic truth is the ruling Labour group are financially incompetant
