[Acrylic-bob]

I have just had a look at the article on page 35 of this week's Observer. In effect her replies are largely similar to the emailed replies Ms Knight sent in response to questions asked by accyweb members - almost verbatim in many instances!

There are some answers which stand out however and bear repeating:

Q. Who will maintain the site after the Panopticon is built?
A. Maintainance will remain with Hyndburn Council as it is now.

Considering that the council cannot afford to remove the christmas illuminations from the town centre and have allowed the footpaths in the area fall into neglect, this seems to me to be niaive and unrealistic in the extreme.


Q. Will it interfere with the view?
A. The panopticon will allow people to stand higher on the coppice, giving a better view of the town and a vantage point to view the trenches in all their glory.

RUBBISH! These structure are going to be twenty feet high, there will be no appreciable difference in the view of the town resulting from such a relatively insignificant increase in viewing height. At the moment the trenches are largely covered with heather and as such are largely invisible, unless you already know where to look for them. Again an increase in viewing height will do nothing to change this.

Q. Will it damage the natural environment?
A. No, Peter Beard (the designer) is working with an ecologist (unnamed) to ensure that all natural wildlife and vegetation is considered.

So, the heather will be conserved and the rhododendrons taking root will be allowed to remain and eventually take over the site. The stands of larch will contine to grow and obscure the view of the panopticon still further. As the heather and hhododendrons expand, the indigenous moorland wildlife will be forced out and walking around the trenches will be made even more difficult than it already is.

Q. Will it be a huge eye-sore?
A. It will have very little impact on the skyline when viewed from the town. It is more "impactful" (not a real word) when viewed from the air In fact it will be a landmark from the sky as it will be the largest earth work of its kind in the UK and will have enormous marketing potential for Accrington and East Lancashire.

Ms Knight appears to be of the opinion that the ownership and use of light aircraft is fairly common in Accrington, there can be little sense in making such a comment otherwise. There can be little point in creating a landmark that cannot be seen. I do think that she is pushing the spin a bit too far with her claim of it being the largest earth-work in the UK. Errmm... Maden Castle, Silbury Hill, Offa's Dyke, the Cerne Abbas Giant, are all earth-works that would put the Panopticon in the shade.

It is clear, to me at least, that this woman has not got a clue what she is talking about, and is merely the mouthpiece of the North West Development Agency, spouting marketing gibberish in support of an ill-considered, underfunded and poorly prepared proposal.