[Busman747]

Originally Posted by Gayle

I don't know where to start on this one.

Once the Panopticon is built it is 'handed' over to the council in who's area it resides. The Blackburn sign is a joke - I can't believe they didn't check the spelling! As for the maintenance - it's terrible that they haven't taken any care of it! It's dirty and needs a good clean. The railings are safe according to the council's health and safety. The railings were actually installed because of the council's health and safety department and I agree, they do detract from the design and style. As for wheelchair access, people in wheelchair's are able to get onto the structure, not just to the highest level of it which is perfectly acceptable and there are other examples where wheelchair users are unable to get to the very highest level.

In its defence - the cannon batteries were in an appalling state of repair and a dog had committed suicide by jumping off one of them - they would have been knocked down for health and safety reasons. The Panopticon repaired them and has allowed them to be kept for a while longer.

As for Burnley, in my opinion it's beautiful, it makes a wonderful eerie noise and judging by the number of people that are always up there it is doing its job.

Hyndburn has missed out big style.

Firstly, Welcome back Gayle, hope that you have had an enjoyable Christmas (or should it be "Seasonal Break?" )

Willow and I didn't set out to go Panopticon bashing but it wasn't hard to criticise and extremely hard to find any positives. I will agree with you that quite a few people seem to be making their way to the "all singing" scaffolding at Burnley (four others while we were there) I must admit that it has a lure in that people want to hear it making a noise, (us included) It was quite difficult to find as it is NOT sign-posted from the main road and if you are given instructions to "turn left" into Crown Point Road you are likely to zoom past as there is only one sign and that favours the traffic from Rawtenstall rather than Burnley The rope fence is err slightly unprofessional?

As for the "Colour Fields" in Blackburn, what a waste of time and fuel!! Access is via Revidge road but again there are no signs unless you spot the large boarding actually in the park that has the designers name plastered over it. personally, had I been the designer, I would have been too embarrassed to advertise my name You say that the railings were not part of the original design, I find it incredible that a designer would expect the council to build a high open platform with no safety measures at all to prevent children, dogs or even adults from plunging to their death or serious injury, that says a lot about the designer! (P.S. Are dogs capable of commiting suicide?? )

If you had any input into persuading the council to erect this Gayle, I STRONGLY suggest that you also persuade them to send someone up there to weld the 4 nuts in place. Armed with two spanners, I could make that a deathtrap for some unsuspecting tourist in a matter of seconds So much for Health and Safety!

While we are on the subject of Health and Safety, it needs a small area at the base of the steps so that people can "regain their feet" after climbing down the steps. At the moment, they step directly onto sloping grass. It was wet and cold when we went and my youngest daughter (12) lost her footing as she stepped onto the grass and knocked my camera out of my hand as she grasped at the first available thing (me) to prevent herself falling

I totally agree with you in your comment "As for the maintenance - it's terrible that they haven't taken any care of it! It's dirty and needs a good clean." If you check back on the discussions of a Panopticon for the coppice, many accyweb members were worried that P.B. and Hyndburn Council would not be willing to cover the cost of maintenance and that anything erected would quickly fall into disrepair. Blackburn obviously do not rate their Panopticon.......and neither would Hyndburn.