Panopticon gets red light
 

The Cabinet have voted against the Panopticon [and the rings] but voted for regenerating the Coppice over the next three years with path improvements, picnic tables and litter bins and 'a successful landmark project to draw fund in'. [THIS HAS BEEN EDITED & CORRECTED APOLOGIES SEE BELOW]

Funding of £350k will come from a variety of sources including the Woodland Commission through the Friends of Arden Hall [as well as other pots of money] and Remade [which will only fund improvements as long as there is a Panopticon] and 'other sources'. No mention of maintenance.

Cllr Britcliffe said this was wonderful news, that the coppice didn't need a Panopticon, it was a panopticon in itself and that the Peel Monument would be cleaned up.

Forgot to mention it was unanimous decision by all 7 cabinet members and Cllr Griffiths [Bax] spoke of the stupidity of the Panopticon project, he wanted to see nothing at all up there and no artificial paths at which point Cllr Britcliffe said he had heard enough from him and the project had been passed.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Thank you for providing us with that information, Graham.

I feel that many people in Accrington and the surrounding districts were concerned that they would end up footing the bill for a half-baked piece of art, through an increase in their councill tax.
Another possible obstacle in peoples minds to accepting a panopticon was that the designs offered up were hardly inspiring, in my opinion.

May I enquire who the funding group 'Remade' are, and why they are stipulating that they are only prepared to release funds for regeneration of the coppice if a panopticon is part of the overall scheme?

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Thanks for the info Graham. 'Highly visible structure????' Sounds like a panopticon of sorts to me, a wolf in sheep's clothing perhaps? :rolleyes:

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Bloody Hell Graham......are your intel scorces the same as Tony Blair's? Only yesterday you're saying its going ahead, now you're saying its not.

Could you possibly tell us though what is a "highly visible structure" It's not a fancy term for a panopticon, is it? Is it a mobile phone mask? A wind turbine generator? A 50 ft bronze statue of Peter Britcliffe?

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Holy Samosas. I hope not!

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

APOLOGIES APOLOGIES APOLOGIES...

I thought I had thrown the report away but I found my original... quote....

It is a landmark that will be completed by 2006 and 'that a successful landmark project will be the catalyst for improvement works on the Coppice and Arden Hall'. The full cost of he project is £350k. Just possibly the Council have got Remade [LCC brownfield sites reclamation initiative funded by NWDA] to do the project outside of the Regional Park Agenda but I cant see that.

Cllr Griffiths was on about a highly visible object after the meeting and his suggestion was a metal? oak tree with 11 large acorns for the 11th battalion.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

CLLR GRIFFIITHS has the right idea but can it not be put outside of the market hall and it is a small price to pay for the 11th battallion. it would be better than the conquer trees that are there the c..p that the starlings leave is unbelieveable.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Of course, if we had a decent penal policy in this country, we could have the thing - paths, etc - rebuilt for nowt. Just send a few chain gangs up there with a couple of hungary rottweilers.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

wouldnt mind having a do at 50 samosas...lol

Full Report
 

REPORT TO: CABINET
DATE: 9th May 2005
REPORT OF: Councillor P Britcliffe - Leader of the Council
REPORT BY: Peter Baron - Head of Leisure
COPPICE IMPROVEMENT AREA
1. PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 To inform Members of the proposals for the Coppice Improvement Area and to seek their approval for the project.
Approval of the report is not deemed a key decision. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS:
2.1 That the proposals are accepted and that planning permission is now sought.
2.2 That Officers be authorised to continue discussions with funding bodies and to submit appropriate funding bids.
3. BACKGROUND
3.1 The Coppice has been chosen as the site of one of six new architect/artist-designed landmarks for East Lancashire.
3.2 The project is being funded by the North Wet Development Agency (NWDA) and East Lancashire's Regional Park Programme, is being managed by the East Lancashire Environmental Arts Network (ELEAN) and led by Mid Pennine Arts (MPA)
3.3 A Hyndbum Advisory Group, Chaired by Councillor Brian Walmsley, has been set up and has been engaged in consulting with the community and interested groups in developing an appropriate design.
3.4 Following this period of consultation and after taking into account the views of the Council, groups and individuals, there have been significant changes to the previous proposal, including a completely different design incorporating facilities such as seats and picnic benches.
3.5 The next stage of the process, subject to Members accepting the proposed scheme, is for planning permission for the landmark to be applied for.
3.6 Subject to receiving planning permission it is proposed that the landmark would be constructed and completed during 2006.
3.7 Following discussions with other agencies, it is hoped that a successful landmark project will be the catalyst for improvement works on the Coppice and Arden Hall; funding through the East Lancashire Regional Park and REMADE to improve existing footpaths, partnership work with Friends of Arden Hall and Lancashire Wildlife Trust, with funding from the Forestry Commission, to improve access and carry out woodland improvements in the Arden Hall area, and the refurbishment of the Peel Monument on the Coppice through Local Heritage Initiative funding from the Heritage Lottery. That would be over £350k of funding which would provide a real green space regeneration package from Bumley Road across the Coppice to Plantation Street/Hodder Street (see attached plan for details). The timescale for the work would be two to three years, subject to securing external funding, and it could lead to the Coppice and Arden Hall area being designated a local nature reserve, which would be the largest of its kind in Lancashire.

4. CONSULTATIONS

4.1 A wide range of consultation has taken place during the past year with schools, community groups, through Area Council and with the general public.

5. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 To allow the project to proceed in order to meet the timescale of the NWDA funding.

5.2 To allow Officers to maximise opportunities to secure external funding.

6. ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REASONS FOR REJECTION

6.1 None.

7. BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

7.1 It is anticipated that the full cost of the project (£350K) will come from external funding
sources.

7.2 Funding for revenue upkeep for the first three years will also come from external sources. After
this period, any revenue costs will be contained within existing budgets.

8. LINKS TO CORPORATE PRIORITIES

• Community Safety

• Housing & the Environment

• Culture & Leisure

9. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

9.1 None.

10. LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) ACT 1985

Panopticons - Cabinet 21st July 2004
Council - 2 March 2005

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Nice thought but wrong place, I think it should be outside the town hall, not right outside, about 10 yards or so, yep you got it in the bus lane! that would stop all the drivers going through there and keep the accidents down, maybe they can incorporate it with some street art

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Brilliant Idea K.S.H........I'll drink to that.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

report appreciated graham,could this be the start of something good? i wonder!

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

lets put it into mathimatical terms and see cashman

good things happening + HBC + the PB factor = not bloody likely

sorry cashman no matter how i do the maths as soon as i introduce HBC into the equasion it all goes to crap :D

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

i agree it would be nice to see picnic tables up the top of the coppice but in reality we all know they will be spray painted within a week

still as long as the paint is dry i would enjoy sitting down up there eating a butty while looking at the view

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Common Sense, it seems, has prevailed at last. Thank you for taking the time to post the report Graham (your typo Hyndbum for Hyndburn caused a little wry amusement).

I could get behind the idea of a metal Oak Tree, provided it was big enough. Perhaps in Stainless Steel, like the one at Whitebirk/Greenbank, which would solve the corrosion problem and would make it even more visible from a distance.

I suppose at this point thanks are due to NWRDA and midpennine arts for raising the possibility - Thanks!

I suppose I had better get my big electronic crayons out for this one.

One last thought, why just a three year project? Why not make it open ended and turn the whole area into a Sculpture Park as well as a nature reserve. That would bring in visitors and encourage people to walk the area and get some exercise? I'm sure that Tate Modern has literally TONS of stuff hanging around in warehouses that could be skilfully positioned around the area.

Interestingly, is this another one in the eye for MPA? I notice that last year HBC demanded something of an accounting from them, are we shortly to see a withdrawal of funding?

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

chav i'm everybit as cynical, but i do like the idea and would be prepared to behave until britcliffe and co give me reason not to.though common sense and H.B.C. do not sit well together.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

And another thing, at the top of Plantation Road there is the ruins of Plantation Mill, How about having Channel Four's Time Team along to do a bit of digging? I'm sure that between us we can concoct a suitably tempting mystery. I know the archaeology willl be crap, three days is ridiculous, but it isn't about academic rigour, it is about media exposure.

Re: Full Report
 

This is pathetic. Cut out the bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo and you are left with a report which is giving the go-ahead to the panopticon, although it is careful not call it that. So, with the connivance of the labour group, this pointless scheme goes ahead, despite the great depth of public opposition.

Once again, the residents of Hyndburn are going to see their money wasted on yet another half-baked municiple project that is going to be of no use other than to line the pockets of the consultants and council pen-pushers. Meanwhile, nothing appears to be done about the ghastly mess which is so fallaciously referred to as Broadway; parks such Milnshaw sparkle in their magnificent decrepity and one big eyesore greets any visitor unfortunate enough to arrive by the the West end and Church.

Do any of these people have any common sense?

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

First time I read it I thought it was the green light, then PB said it was the red light for the rings. When asked if it was a red light for the Panopticon he said "it was clear if you read the report". Reading it again it is vague yet it is clear that a compromise is coming. The fact that no no no means a landmark structure behind Peel Monument.

Knowing several cabinet members are in favour it is understandble the report can be read both ways as everyone is fishing for a compromise soon [ie before funding is lost].

NWDA funding and REMADE funding is only if there is a Panopticon [or a Panopticon called something else] and these are refered to as outside funders and part of the £350k in the report.

REMADE is the whole of Arden Hall & The whole of Huncoat side of the coppice but not the top of the coppice. The Forrestry Commission monies is a FoAH project, not the Council, and is £120,000 for the forrestry areas and must be match funded, and has not been applied for yet. Match funding £120,000 will be hard work. The Hritage Lottery is mentioned but that is a tough one to get. The £1m HLG for Ryddings Park, the intial application form hasn't been filled in yet!

The map [didn't post that] indicated the new structure will go behind the Peel Monument and also indicated which paths are likely to be upgraded. Again this is a FoAH initiative for the paths which only began in February this year, initially in the woodland area where a tree survery has been undertaken and connecting outward and upward.

Likewise, the nature reserve is again a FoAH objective for the woodland area and that is the only area which has been assessed so far following a FoAH intiative. It is one of 3 sites in Hyndburn though the Council has the final decison. It is thought that this should be extended to include the coppice for size [and publicity], therefore funding and obviously regeneration.

The oak tree seems a reasonable idea and it was suggested by some old lady up Baxenden [according to Cllr Griffiths] who rightly identified the word with Accrington and 11 large oversize acorns for the 11th battalion and hope of a new beginning. Curious to know about materials/rusting. can it be climbed [by vandals not tourists!]? Apart from that I would be happy with that.

Its the 11th hour again and still no one is sure. Isnt it a shame that HBC wasn't more constructive 18 months ago instead of letting things drag. Funding issues remain highly questionable.

The basis [ie no Panopticon] to get funds remains in doubt/non existant. Laision with FoAH have been non-existant - and its groups like this who are often needed to apply for external funding such as the FC £120k. No-one from ELP has been involved and it is still all a bit chaotic. No one has thought how the bins wil be emptied from the top of the coppice.

Still its progress...

Re: Full Report
 

The Labour Group has had nothing to do with the Panopticon. Quite the opposite PB is trying to stick it on the Labour Group. Its a Cabinet decision and the Cabinet are Tories. That was decided at the last local elections when the public voted the Conservatives in as the Majority Party.

Re: Full Report
 

the public opposition i have encountered was of the ridiculous panoptican ideas,most people i speak to are NOT against other types of landmark, i discover this through living here and speaking to locals,so i think you may be slightly offbeam there tealeaf.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Everyone seems thrilled that the Panopticon has been dropped but what is a large scale sculptural landmark if it is not a Panopticon? Sounds to me like everyone is getting strung up about a name. And now you are going to be conned by the council who says 'you're not getting a Panopticon, but instead you're going to get a large scale sculptural landmark'.

However, having said that it's probably all immaterial anyway because from what I understand if it's not a 'Panopticon' all the funding from outside sources will disappear. So, this is the second con from your council - when it all goes astray they will blame the funders, NWDA and ELP (now known as LEP - Lancashire Economic Partnership by the way) and MPA for failing to deliver and not themselves.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

I was just thinking the same thing. Well said.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

i think also if you look back at my previous posts purplelass i also said iwas against the ridiculous designs,but also said would look favourably on something in honour of the accrington pals,if they call that panoptican i couldnt give a monkeys,seems to me like you are the one getting strung up.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

i think also if you look back at my previous posts purplelass i also said iwas against the ridiculous designs,but also said would look favourably on something in honour of the accrington pals,if they call that panoptican i couldnt give a monkeys,seems to me like you are the one getting strung up. you can also see i voted for that in the poll.

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Who dreamed up this name "Panopticon" anyway? Have they any idea what a panopticon actually is?


BTW The metal oak tree sounds good. The picnic tables sound better. Will there be a car park and disabled access? Will it cater for all ethnic minorities?

Re: Panopticon gets red light
 

Willow, my view is exactly the same. But its a chaotic situation so late in the day. No designs, no funding, no preparatory work and no clear direction.

AccyWeb knows as much as anyone about this issue and it will be interesting to see what members think of any comments that appear in this weeks Observer.