The selection process for a piece of public art to commemorate suffragette Emily Davison has flown in the face of the very principles of democracy she fought for according to angry residents.

The Epsom Guardian revealed last week that Mary Branson’s concrete ellipse design  has been selected as the artwork to commemorate Davison, who died after running out in front of the King’s horse at the 1913 Epsom Derby, despite attracting the least support in a public vote on six proposals, held in May.

Ms Branson’s design, which would be aligned so the setting sun would appear held in its centre once a year, on the day Davison died, attracted just 30 votes but was selected by the judging panel - consisting of Councillor Clive Woodbridge, two Surrey artists and a representative from UCA Epsom.

Coun Woodbridge said the public vote was only ever meant to be a guide, but frustrated residents have questioned why it was held at all.

Adele Rowe said: "Why are we left with the undemocratic decision of a ‘gang of four’?

"To choose a design that gained so few votes seems extremely foolhardy and completely against Emily Davison’s belief in the justice of equal rights."

She said the chosen design will "only make real 'sense'" for a few minutes once a year and believes a design more in keeping with Davison’s "life, ideals and death" should have been chosen.

Heather Francis said: "The irony is that it’s gone against the very principles the suffragettes stood for. 

"Why were the public even consulted if our votes were not going to be the final decision?"

But Coun Woodbridge said this week that the "irony" would have been "not asking the public to comment at all".

He said: "While the vote was certainly taken into account it would not have been responsible to use it as the only measure.

"Maybe there is a valid point that if you’re going to have a vote then perhaps it should be the ‘be all and end all’ but in this case it wasn’t. 

"We’re talking about artwork which was limited by the information which could be displayed to the public."

He said hearing about the "symbolism" of Ms Branson’s design, her personality and previous experience struck the judging panel who chose her "unanimously".

Coun Woodbridge added: "It’s not way out there like some modern art but it’s not too safe either. 

"We didn’t really want a representative piece, a statue or anything with a visual likeness to Emily Davison."

He believes that once public engagement events with Ms Branson are conducted in the autumn, "people might get more motivated and energised".

He said £35,000 must be raised for the project, and "we will have to find out" whether a lack of public mandate for the winning design will affect whether people will be willing to contribute to it.

A display on the winning work is on show now at the Ebbisham Centre along with a box where visitors can pledge money to help pay for the sculpture.

What do you think about the artwork and the way it has been chosen? Leave a comment below or email Hardeep Matharu at hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk