THE panopticons are splitting communities. The designs for six pieces of 'public art' to be placed around East Lancashire have been welcomed by some as a tourist draw, while others have laughed them out of town halls and public meetings. Reporter BEN HEWES looks at what future, if any, the panopticons could have.

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HEY say all the best artwork is controversial. From the Angel of the North to Darwen Tower, all were met with howls of protest at first.

But these works now have one thing in common -- they are all much-loved.

Will the same happen with the panopticons? Will they ever be classed as artwork? Will they ever be built?

The plan seemed simple when it was announced two years ago. A £1million project, funded by the North West Development Agency, to place pieces of public art in each of East Lancashire's six boroughs.

The organisers of the project, Mid Pennine Arts based in Burnley, believe the artwork could kickstart regeneration in the areas and bring in more cash than just the thousands of pounds needed to build them.

And some areas have seemingly embraced the plans. In Blackburn, Wycoller in Pendle, and Top O'th Slate in Rawtenstall, work is set to go ahead, while at a public meeting in Huncoat this week a straw poll showed residents were in favour of the Hyndburn plan.

But Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley's panopticon designs were greeted with fury by some, with project managers forced to scrap proposals for a statue on Kemple End and search for another site.

In Hyndburn and Burnley, where a whistling scaffolding tree is to be built at Crown Point, pressure is growing as the consultation process nears an end.

Accrington's design for a series of grassy hills on the Coppice was deemed unsuitable by council leaders and the artist has gone back to the drawing board -- while plans for a flying saucer on the same site were ridiculed

But without the art, so the argument goes, there will be no investment, which could bring related improvements to each of the panopticon areas such as upgraded pathways and seating areas.

Coun Peter Britcliffe, leader of Hyndburn Council, has been the most high profile voice of protest but said the reason for the opposition was not that locals were philistines, against the idea of artwork, but rather that Lancastrians were more practical in their approach to such ideas.

He said: "In relation to Hyndburn, we thought of something on top of the Coppice, but what people would prefer to see is footways and a picnic table. So I think people are practical and have common sense.

"The idea is all very well but it seems to me far too much time is spent putting the icing on the cake and not on the cake itself."

Rossendale Council has estimated an extra £300,000 will be invested in the borough thanks to its statue.

But even in Blackburn, where the council has given the Corporation Park project the green light, some are still against the idea.

Coun Paul McGurty, Corporation Park ward member, said: "I think these panopticon projects are just another way of wasting massive amounts of public money.

"Wherever this funding comes from, ultimately it's public money and I think given the choice the vast majority of residents, of which I am one, would much prefer to have this money spent on improving services to local communities."

But Gayle Knight, spokeswoman for Mid Pennine Arts, said: "When Darwen Tower was first proposed there was a petition against it signed by hundreds of people. But now if you say to people 'We are going to knock Darwen Tower down' there would be outrage.

"The same happened with the Angel of the North, at the time there were a lot of protests, but now it's a symbol for Gateshead and the regeneration of the area.

"That is what we are trying to get over, that this is going to really kickstart some regeneration.

"It's like saying if your want to win the lottery you have to buy a ticket. You have got to take that first step yourself."

And Derek Glover, secretary of the Accrington Civic Trust, added: "We are certainly not against it in principal but we are not for it at this stage as we don't yet know what we would be in favour of.

"But there is no point putting something on the top of the Coppice and then finding there is no money to make other improvements to the area, such as to the footpaths."

Despite the controversy, the architects involved remain convinced the panopticons can bring a real benefit to an area, and welcome the public's involvement.

Peter Beard, the architect behind Hyndburn's project, said: "It is fantastic that people are that interested in a project. It doesn't put me off at all. With the work I do as an architect I am really committed to public involvement.

"For me, that response is what makes the job interesting."