The "New" Panopticon

Acrylic-bob · 25-03-2005, 08:25

It seems as though the cloth-eared and terminally hard-of-thinking are very much in evidence this week. First we have the announcements of forthcoming "improvements" made by the dear leader, and now we have the new proposals for the Panopticon.

Beard, the designer, says that "My belief is that the public input has lent the project a strength and meaning which it could never have had without it" Hmmmm, I'll bet. The proposed redisgn will now cover an area 100 metres in diameter - obliterating a significant part of the trench system which, as I seem to recall, people were rather protective about.
It is also stated that the 1000 cubic metres of earth required for the project will be found on site and not brought in from somewhere else.

It is intended that the rings will retain rainwater. Thus providing a suitable habitat for bog plants and somewhere else for your little darlings to drown themselves in. The furrows are going to be 9 metres from base to tip! (around 27 feet)

The Peel Monument will be subject to an application for restoration funding to the Architectural Heritage Trust and the Association for Building Preservation Trusts. Who may, or may not, agree to fund the repair and restoration. The MacAlpine shelter will be demolished and replaced with picnic tables, Which will last five minutes and will end up either in flames or at the bottom of the Coppice.

You can read a more detailed description here...

http://www.panopticons.uk.net/news/n...5_hyndburn.htm

garinda · 25-03-2005, 10:23

lt's good to see Peter Beard is using the 'opposition' to good, creative effect then!

I don't blame him, he must be over the moon to have his first guinea pig about to be disected.

Unfortunatly it's 27 feet tall and will be left on the Coppice for all eternity, unless earth movers become the next must have after quad bikes.

WillowTheWhisp · 25-03-2005, 11:17

This is even worse than the tellytubby bumps. I totally agree that those rings full of rainwater are a danger. I hate to think of a child drowning in there but that seems a very real possibility I would have thought. Given the fact that these are concentric circles they are just asking to be climbed (how else would anyone see beyond the first incline?) and then you're faced with a smooth slope down into water of unknown depth? The fact the the slope continues on down beneath the water would surely add to the danger. Who in their right mind can think this is a good idea? That's before we even get to the point that stagnant rainwater is eventually going to become decidedly pongy.

It hardly seems worth commenting on the proposed demolition of the shelter in favour of picnic tables which won't last five minutes once the vandals get at them.

Why oh why do we have to even have a wretched panopticon? Yesterday Busman and I were going up the A56 and at the junction with Manchester road we noticed a nice lump of ground which would look lovely with a statue/piece of artwork/whatever upon it and that would leave our beloved Coppice alone.

See photos below of the lump in question.

lindsay ormerod · 25-03-2005, 15:37

Even more bizarre is the "artist's" comment that "High Form is also a homage to the Pals.A reference to the 11th Battalion can be read in the 11 circular folds of the form-a total of 5 ridges and 6 furrows"

What a great steaming pile of poo!

Acrylic-bob · 25-03-2005, 16:01

Oh come on Lindsay, don't beat about the bush woman, tell us what you really think!

Uncle Mick · 25-03-2005, 16:04

HIGH_form, ART_toss more like. "The Coppice carries strong memories of the 11th (service) Battalion" So we`ll make it like the Somme then and have claims against the council for trenchfoot!! I did`nt think they could make a worse design than last time but this is just irresponsible.
It is worth noting that this week the Arts Council has withdrawn funding to Blackpool Grand Theatre of £50000. Cost of panopticon on Coppice £50000!

lindsay ormerod · 25-03-2005, 16:08

Sorry if I have offended A-B but have you ever read such unmitigated tosh in your whole life? I have the greatest respect for talented artists but this imbecile is giving "art" a very bad name!

Acrylic-bob · 25-03-2005, 16:12

NAY! You haven't offended me lass, I totally agree. It's the biggest load of "right on" tripe I think I have ever seen.

Acrylic-bob · 25-03-2005, 16:28

Following recent criticism of my criticism of this project, I think that at this juncture it might be a good idea for me to clarify my position. I love Accrington and it's people. I grew up here and all my memories are here, in its shabby back to back houses and in its verdant green countryside. Because I love my home town I want the very best for it and I get very angry when I see people who have little or no connection with the town trying to palm us off with second best. Accrington has had to put up with enough of that in the past.

I am not against the idea of public sculpture per-se. Indeed as an Arts graduate I am if anything more pro art than most people. I am, however against this project. It is bad design, poorly thought through, facile and damaging to a well loved landmark. If it were to be sited anywhere else I might eventually swallow my objections and support it. But not on the Coppice. Not under any circumstances and not at any price!

lindsay ormerod · 25-03-2005, 16:36

Good on ya A-B! It's a hill,ok,it's not a very spectacular hill but it's OUR HILL and we like it just the way it is!

WillowTheWhisp · 25-03-2005, 17:07

I liked it even better the way it was before they put the flippin trees there.

Like you I am totally dumbfounded at this latest "improved" idea. Must get an email off to Gail Wassername asap.

.

Doug · 25-03-2005, 19:09

Why can't they leave well alone, what a load of B******s.

Tinkerbelle · 25-03-2005, 21:49

I have been trying to think to myself what the problem is with this ponopticon idea. In theory it should be a good idea for the reasons Penine Arts has mentioned, but I know now why I object so much. It's too modern! Accrington doesn't suit modern we are an old fashioned industrial town which is proud of it's heritage when these 'people' (wasn't that polite of me I could have used several other words) realise that maybe they will built us something we do approve of!

Doug · 25-03-2005, 21:53

Behave you. I think they should keep any new art work in the town itself. Maybe along Broadway. I think someone may have already said that recently.......Lets try to ensure the hills stay clear of this rubbish........

chav1 · 26-03-2005, 19:38

holy crap how big is the marble going to be that you roll along that abomination lol

seriously though surely he cant claim that as origional i was playing a game very much like that when i was younger i think it was one of those ballbearing games or maybe those liquid silver games where you navigate along a rut

anyway they will be much easier to fill in than digging up those tellytubby huts