New public art for Whitebirk roundabout

2:32pm Wednesday 12th March 2008

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By Tom Moseley »

A BUSY roundabout is set to be decorated by a piece of public art.

But the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council Colin Rigby has spoken out against his own council's scheme, saying it should have been put in a quieter place.

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The artwork on the Red Lion roundabout at Whitebirk will be based around the design of a dry stone wall, with a steel sphere pointing the route into the town centre.

The reverse of the wall will be covered in ivy.

It has been designed in this way show to symbolise the gateway between urban and rural areas.

The council's executive member for regeneration Alan Cottam said: "This is an important gateway to the town which is currently not very welcoming.

"The project is a positive statement that reflects the vision and aspirations of the town of Blackburn."

Plans for the piece of public art were revealed in March 2007 when the council was under the control of the Labour group.

At that time Coun Rigby was opposition leader and he said he was against the art as could be a distraction.

And speaking yesterday Coun Rigby reiterated his opposition.

He said: "I still think if you look at the volume of traffic in the rush hour you've got enough distractions. If they had found a quiet place to put it then fair enough."

Coun Rigby said that because the sculpture was being funded by European cash he was not to actively take up his opposition.

Overgrown vegetation is being removed at present, before trees, bulbs and flowers will be planted.

The artwork has been designed by Cheshire-based artists Eaton Waygood Associates, which was told to create a piece that was reflective of the local area.

The scheme is part of a £3 million plan for the Whitebirk gateway which included the recently-completed installation of traffic lights at the main Whitebirk roundabout.

That project has been widely hailed a success at tackling the notorious jams at rush hour.

The project is funded through the European Development Fund, the Highways Agency and Blackburn with Darwen's local transport plan.