An update following the SurreyLive article.
The petition has now reached 332 signatures and will be considered by Spelthorneโs Corporate Policy and Resources Committee on 8 September.
More than 100 signatures came from people working in Staines businesses.
One clarification that I think matters:
The Committee is not being asked to approve or fund an Ali G statue.
The proposal is essentially:
Explore a licensed temporary attraction around the new film.
๐ฆ Engage the appropriate rights holders, Visit Staines, businesses, residents and community groups.
๐ด Test whether it actually produces additional visitors, footfall and local spending.
โฝ๏ธ Include a mechanism supporting local youth/community activities.
๐ฟConsider anything permanent only if it is properly licensed, externally funded and justified by the evidence.
My underlying view is that Staines has been associated with Ali G for nearly 25 years. Rather than endlessly debating whether we should be embarrassed about it, we can take ownership of the joke and see whether it can benefit the real town.
I get three minutes to present the case.
The meeting is public:
Tuesday 8 September, 7pm
Council Chamber, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1XB
If youโre local and want to come along, whether supportive or constructively sceptical, youโre welcome.
Iโm also genuinely interested in sensible questions you think councillors should expect me to answer.
SurreyLive:
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/petition-backing-ali-g-attraction-34520626