Revamped logo fails to quieten critics
The flame-like design – which will cost £65,000 to implement but has been condemned as looking like "the emblem of a cattle breed society from somewhere in the Balkans" – has been adapted to be more reminiscent of St Piran's flag, designers say.
But critics say the money would be better spent on public services and have dismissed the latest adaptations as "window dressing".
The new logo will replace the current county crest when the unitary authority takes over from the county council and district councils next year.
Graeme Hicks, leader of Kerrier District Council, who sits on the implementation executive responsible for the transition to the unitary authority, said: "Frankly it's bizarre. This is no better than the last one – it's just window dressing."
"People want something that represents Cornwall's cultural identity. There is a passion in Cornwall that the people making these decisions don't understand."
The current county crest featuring a fisherman, miner and a chough will be ditched next April in favour of the new logo.
Mr Hicks said: "The whole issue is being run by a bungling load of incompetents.
"We had a good logo that represented Cornwall well. These people don't want the county crest because they are saying it's a new council but really it's a county council takeover."
On the streets of Truro yesterday, the people of Cornwall remained unimpressed with the adaptations made to the design.
Sheila Pascoe, from Truro, said: "It's like moving the deckchairs on the Titanic. That doesn't look like the cross of St Piran to me. What was wrong with the old one?
"If you ask me it's a waste of money that could be far better spent elsewhere."
David Tonkin, from Truro, said: "I can't see any difference in this latest design. What's the matter with the miner and the fisherman? There has to be more important things to spend money on than a logo."
Writing on the comment and discussion website www.Cornwall24.co.uk Bardh said: "Looks to me like the emblem of a cattle breed society from somewhere in the Balkans. Is somebody trying to tell us something?"
It was initially feared that adopting the new logo on all council property could cost £500,000 but the implementation executive decided only to go ahead with changes to main council sites used by the public, customer service staff and library vans, costing £65,000.
The new logo will be introduced elsewhere as and when uniforms, badges and vehicles are replaced.
The logo was designed in-house and chosen from more than 30 entries and, according to the new authority, is intended to represent a "dynamic new corporate identity".
Davinia Grist, spokesman for One Cornwall, said: "The corporate identity that was originally presented was a draft version. It was always the intention of the designers to do further work on the design.
"The designers have tweaked the design to highlight the St Piran's flag – it was part of the draft design, however it wasn't clear."
Ms Grist said that in matters of design it was never possible to please everybody and said she had received comments such as: "The new unitary logo is very good, it's modern, contemporary, a breath of fresh air, fit for Cornwall in the 21st century."
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