Weston-super-Mare is an English seaside resort town, and civil parish, in North Somerset (2001 population 71,758). The town is situated on the Bristol Channel approximately 18 miles (29 km) south west of Bristol and has spread along the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. It is well known for its sandy beaches, although at low tide the sea can be over a mile from the beach front. Weston-super-Mare is the most populous civil parish in England. The town's motto is "Ever Forward". It is twinned with Hildesheim, Germany.
A structure known as Silica has been installed at Big Lamp Corner during 2006. It is a piece of public art, an advertising sign, a retail kiosk selling newspapers and hot food (waffles and so on), as well as a bus shelter. It has been criticised by some local residents who liken it to a carrot or a space ship, although it is meant to symbolise man's harmony with the sea. This was part of North Somerset Council's ongoing civic pride initiative that has sought to revitalise Weston-super-Mare's public spaces - which had suffered a period of decline. Other public space improvements have been made throughout the town such as improvements to the street scene in Grove Park Village. There has been some controversy in the town over whether the silica enhanced the town or was a waste of money. However, this debate centred round a misunderstanding of the government funds used to pay for the sculpture. Many local residents did not realise that the money came from central government and had to be used on public art/improvements to the street scene environment. Consequently their calls for the money to be re-directed to other public services could not be acted upon by North Somerset Council without the funding being withdrawn by central government. Some residents considered that an attractive water fountain or garden would have been a better investment of this money. More on Weston Super Mare 

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