MIxed reaction to Blackburn roundabout artwork (From Lancashire Telegraph)

MIxed reaction to Blackburn roundabout artwork

4:40pm Tuesday 19th August 2008

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A SCULPTURE on one of East Lancashire’s busiest roundabouts has been unveiled – but to a mixed reaction from people.

Work on the sculpture on the Red Lion roundabout at Whitebirk, Blackburn, which was designed to reflect the local area, was completed earlier this month.

The design is based around a dry stone wall with a steel sphere pointing the route into the town centre.

The reverse of the wall is covered in ivy, symbolising the gateway between urban and rural areas.

But the sculpture has divided residents. Bryan Charnley, 60, a chartered surveyor, from Preston, who works in Blackburn, slammed the sculpture as “a monstrosity” and “ridicul-ous waste of money.”

He added: “They are putting the Council Tax up constantly and if they are using it like that then I’m glad I’m not paying my tax to this local authority.”

Sandra Weller, 61, a civil servant, of Petre Crescent, Rishton, agreed.

She said: “It has been an absolute waste of money, which could have been spent on something better, like playgrounds and perserving the wildlife that I used to see on there.”

Roofer Andrew Lunt, 29, from Cheshire, who works in the East Lancashire area, also thinks the sculpture is “a waste of money.”

“It’s not very attractive at all. When I came past I pointed it out to my friend and said ‘what a mess.’ It’s awful,” he said.

However, the sculpture, designed by Cheshire-based artists Eaton Waygood Associates, has attracted some fans. Ghama Hussain, 71, retired, of The Dene Blackburn, said: “It looks OK and I under-stand what it means. They’ve done a good job on it.”

Nicola Mcallister, 34, a cleaner, of Burnley Road, Blackburn, agreed.

She said: “It needs some lighting around the ball, but I like anything like that. It looks good, Alan Shields, 22, a health care assistant, of Gloucester Road, liked the sculpture, but said he thought it lacked character.

“It is decent, but it looks too bland. It needs more flowers and colour.”

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