Council deputy leader RESIGNS over mocked Marble Arch Mound after costs for ridiculed tourist attraction nearly double to 'totally unacceptable' £6MILLION
The deputy leader of Westminster Council resigned today after the total costs for a ridiculed 82-ft tall man-made mountain in the capital nearly doubled to £6million.
Melvyn Caplan quit after a 'totally unacceptable' rise in costs of the Marble Arch Mound which suffered a catastrophic opening that saw it widely derided by visitors.
The project, planned by Dutch architects MVRDV and managed by the council, was designed to give views of Oxford Street, Hyde Park, Mayfair and Marylebone.
But it was slammed by tourists as soon as it opened on July 26 amid complaints it was still being built and the views were obscured by trees or nearby buildings.
Visitors were charged between £4.50 and £8 to climb up the wood and scaffold mound complete with grass, shrubs and trees, and it closed after just two days.
Westminster Council apologised for the botched launch of the £6million Marble Arch Mound
Westminster City Council's deputy leader Melvyn Caplan has quit over the Mound debacle
Reality and fantasy: The council said the Mound was not ready and refunds would be given
Westminster City Council leader Rachael Robathan said today that her deputy Mr Caplan had resigned with immediate effect after the costs ballooned.
She said: 'The Mound opened too early, and we have apologised for that. It has become clear that costs have risen more than anticipated and that is totally unacceptable.
'Our original forecast cost was £3.3million. Total costs are now £6million, covering every aspect of the project: construction, operation and eventual removal.
'With regret, I have accepted the resignation of my deputy leader, Melvyn Caplan, who led the Mound project. We have also instigated a thorough internal review to understand what went wrong and ensure it never happens again.'
Mr Caplan is a retired IBM executive who has held a range of positions on the council over the past three decades, including chairman of the planning committee.
Visitors slammed the views which are mostly obscured by trees and surrounding buildings
The construction in London was part of a scheme to increase footfall in the shopping district
The Mound has now reopened, but the council has faced questions over its decision to make the attraction free during peak August season, since it will inevitably increase the already bloated public bill.
The construction was part of a scheme to increase footfall in the shopping district as lockdown restrictions ease.
Ms Robathan said: 'We are determined to continue our hard work to restore our city's vibrancy, bring back visitors and ensure people can keep their jobs.
'Doing nothing was never an option. So when the Mound fully reopens in September, I hope that people will come and see it for themselves.
'The Mound may delight or divide views and that's ok, but we're confident that in the end it will fulfil its original brief – to get people back into the West End and remind them of why this is a world class City.'
The Marble Arch Mount promised 'an experience of the great outdoors' with sweeping views
The project was planned by Dutch architects MVRDV (pictured, Winy Maas, Jacob Van Rijis and Nathalie De Vries) and was managed by Westminster City Council
Visitors were offered a 360-degree view of scaffolding, building sites and construction cranes
The council has announced that tickets to the mound, which is due to be open until January 2022, would be free throughout August.
Mr Caplan has served as councillor for Little Venice Ward since 1990, with the Conservative also a former leader of the council.
It followed what the authority called 'teething problems' with the attraction amid complaints it was still being constructed.
The leader of the council's Labour group Adam Hug said last week the episode had 'brought shame on Westminster across the world'.