PAYING tribute to its industrial past and heralding a green future for the Irwell Valley, Bury Metro is to erect an eye-catching sculpture at Burrs Country Park. Work has already started on a massive stone base to support the feature which has been designed, and will be created, by widely acclaimed artist David Kemp.

Over the past seven years around £2 million worth of funding, attracted through European and Sports Council grants by Bury Metro, has been poured into the Country Park to transform a derelict area into a major local attraction, well placed beside the highly successful East Lancashire Steam Railway.

A competition was held in March of last year to find a suitable way of highlighting the area.

David explained that his sculpture is intended as a landmark piece clearly visible on the approach from Woodhill Road.

It will mark the entrance to Burrs Country Park at a point where a large mill used to stand.

His vision of a large wheel half immersed in masonry, might at first glance appear to be an uncovered relic of the huge waterwheels which originally powered the industry of the Irwell Valley.

It will look ancient, heavy and substantial with the outer flange and rim pierced with silhouettes of fish and birds.

"The wheel symbolises the process of constant change, the changing of a river valley into an industrial site and then changing back again" explained David.

A smaller, half wheel mounted on a column is also ambiguous and could represent a broken drive wheel or a natural form like a tree or plant.

Bury, together with Salford and Rossendale Councils, is seeking to attract £1.2 million worth of National Lottery Funding to see the creation of a Sculpture Trail right along the length of the Irwell Valley stretching from central Manchester to the Pennine foothills.

Bury Metro's Development Services Committee chairwoman Councillor Julie Higson said that Burrs is a perfect example of just what can be done with old, derelict and unsightly land.

Planners and staff supported by volunteers and community interest had worked long and hard to produce a resource which is well used and greatly appreciated by the public both far and wide.

"The canoe facilities are amongst the best in the region while the old features of the industrial era are still there to be visited and enjoyed" she said adding that David Kemp's sculpture embodied both the past and the future of Burrs Country Park.

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