A Footbridge for Little Lever Background/Context The Artist’s Brief A section 106 fund from a housing development at Cricketers View in Little Lever has been allocated for the introduction of public art into the surrounding area for the benefit of residents of the property and the immediate area. In July 2010 artist Liam Curtin was appointed to develop a public art proposal for the area. (To refer to the full brief please see Appendix 1) People Artist: Liam Curtin Project Manager: Gaynor Cox The Steering Group Councillor Anthony Connell (Little Lever Ward Member) Councillor Maureen Connell (Little Lever Ward Member) Councillor Mary Woodward (Little Lever Ward Member) Paula Connor, Bolton Council Project Officer Gaynor Cox, Bolton at Home Housing Arts Officer Consultation / Engagement activity The Consultation Forum There have been three meetings so far of this group, which is made up of local residents and the Ward Councillors. The aim of the group is to be a sounding board for ideas and to guide the artist in local matters. Essentially it is the main context for the consultation process. In summary the first meeting on 22nd November 2010 supported the idea of an artwork of some kind in the canal area but firmly discouraged the idea of any permanent floating structure. At the second meeting on 25th January 2011 there was 100 percent support for the artist's recent proposal of a footbridge over the canal which would connect Little Lever with Moses Gate Country Park. The third and most recent meeting of the Consultation Forum, held on 15th March 2011, was arranged to update residents on the progress of the project, and to ascertain and try and address the concerns of residents living in the immediate vicinity of the proposed site. (For full reports on the Consultation Forum please see Appendix 2) Ship Shape One Saturday last October a group of local residents made a decorative floating sculpture by stitching thousands of CD‟s together. The finished result was floated on the canal at the Melrose Basin where it dappled the light and made rainbow reflections in the rippling water. It was a chance for artist Liam Curtin to meet local people and to begin a dialogue with the local community about what sort of permanent feature might improve the area around the canal. See picture below. Little Lever Local Area Forum On 16th November 2010 Liam made a short presentation about public art in general, his own work and some ideas about how to develop the project in Little Lever. The presentation was generally well received although a few residents raised concerns about the location of the artwork feeling it needed to be in the town centre where more people could benefit. Fortunately the same residents have been attending The Consultation Forum and are now, through the dialogue of this group, firmly in favour of the latest proposals. A further presentation was made to the Forum on 14th February 2011. This presentation concentrated on the bridge proposal. The meeting was well attended by local residents and young people from the youth club. The bridge proposal was well received, and a positive article and editor's comment about the project subsequently appeared in the 'Bolton News' on 16th February 2011. (Bolton News article and editor's 'Comment' - see Appendix 3) Bridge Naming An initial consultation activity with residents was undertaken at the Little Lever & Darcy Lever Area Forum. If the project receives Executive Member approval, then wider public consultation and/or bridge naming activities involving local residents and schools will be planned. The Little Lever Youth Club Liam has been working with the local youth club where young people have been making models of bridges, particularly using the structural element from Leonardo Da Vinci‟s bridge design which is based on interlocking lengths of wood that stay in place due to gravity - sometimes known as a friction lock bridge. See illustrations below It is hoped that by involving young people in this way they will have a sense of ownership of the bridge and as such encourage their peers to respect it. The project involves art, some physics, a little maths, some quite hard work but hopefully a lot of fun! See picture below. The design process can involve the young people of the area. If the Council approves this proposal, local schools will be contacted and, where possible, linked educational activities will be developed. Officers / Agencies already liaised with / to liaise with Nigel Hartley: Bolton Council Major Parks Team Leader: Moses Gate Alex Allen: Bolton Council Senior Planning Officer Jon Tuson: Bolton Council Senior Engineering Manager (Structures & Estate Development) Nick Smith: Regeneration Manager, British Waterways Paul Hindle; John Fletcher; Steve Dent: Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society Michael Craig: Consultant, GMP Design for Security Suzanne Waymont: The Greater Manchester Ecology Unit Chris Waters: Bolton GMP Crime Reduction Officer Janett Sheddon: Bolton Council Safer Communities Officers Frank Warren, Bolton Council Health & Safety Officer GMP South Neighbourhood Policing Team Darren Crook: Bolton Youth Leader Michael Wilkinson: Timber Specialist Joe Curley: Craftsman (with whom Liam will be building the bridge) Outline proposal A Bridge for Little Lever After considering a number of options for structures in the canal basin area the idea of a footbridge to connect Little Lever with Moses Gate Country Park was considered. This could be both a useful and decorative object which will add to the picturesque landscape and it would mean that the primary school children along with local residents could access the Country Park on foot and dog walkers could extend their regular walks to include both sides of the canal. Liam is excited about the possibilities of creating something that is decorative in both its form and detail along with being practical and useful. Aims of the bridge: To provide better access to Moses Gate Country park for residents of Little Lever. To extend the scope of walkers. To provide a focus within the landscape. The bridge, although functional will be an artwork too. It may have decorative details. To provide a viewing platform from which to survey the local scenery The footbridge should have a magical element, a structure about which one might weave a story. The artist wishes to imbue the bridge with romance, for it to be a meeting place, “the place of our first kiss” “he proposed to me on the bridge” Since the last Consultation Forum meeting held on 15th March 2011 (see Minutes at Appendix 2) Liam has lost some confidence in the original proposed site near the Melrose Basin, as a number of strongly negative comments from the nearest residents were expressed. Whilst these objections are not necessarily valid in terms of denying planning permission, in that they rely on a mere perception that a bridge at this site would attract young miscreants, Liam feels that he would not wish to build a structure in the face of such strong opposition. Developing a proposal for this site has not been a waste of time however as there are a number of useful lessons to be learned and now a new and better site has emerged as a result of this process. Alternative Site for a Bridge The new site is a little further south at Nob End on the site of an old footbridge. The brick and stone abutments are still there and whilst they need some renovating and in some areas rebuilding they present an ideal base for a new bridge. It was the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society that had brought this site to Liam‟s attention, as it ties in with improvements they are making to the area. Diverting the footpath over a newly erected bridge on the site of the former bridge will allow the canal society to clear the arm of the canal that leads to the flight of locks that linked Bolton and Bury to Manchester. This will allow the Canal Society to re-introduce water to this section and achieve another step in their long term goal of renovating the whole canal. The Canal Society has plans to introduce a picnic area near to this site and is keen to see the bridge acting as a focal point and a place of congregation. (Please see Appendix 4 - email from Paul Hindle, Chairman Designate, Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society dated 24th May 2011.) The brick and stone abutments are very attractive in their form and material and should be restored to their original specification. This traditional base gives the artist an opportunity to make an interesting juxtaposition between old and new. The Canal Society, though keen to see the footbridge replaced, are happy to give the artist a free hand in the design. Liam is keen to work closely with the Canal Society in order to maximise the potential for landscaping the area. Another advantage of this site is that due to the existing abutments and the topography of the immediate area the bridge can be built without steps making it accessible to all. The previous bridge design attracted criticism as it required steps to gain the necessary three metre height above the water line. A bridge on this site will provide a perfect viewing platform for people to see the whole river valley and beyond. The artist will take this into account when considering the design. As regards the design of the bridge, this has yet to be considered in any depth, there being a need to assess a range of design restraints. (Please see recommendations below.) The new design is likely to be constructed from steel rather than timber given that the span is greater than at the previous site.