Panopticons
 

I've logged on for the first time today because I can't quite believe what I'm reading. I went to the meeting on Saturday about the Panopticons because I wanted more information. I got tons more info and now I'm right in favour of it. How narrow minded some people are. If you want Accrington to remain in the dark ages, with no town pride then you go ahead - I on the other hand will be cheering it on. How many others went to the meeting, or to any of the meetings that they've held?

Re: Panopticons
 

whats a panoptican ?????????

Re: Panopticons
 

A piece of artwork planned for the top of the Coppice. Part of a scheme to create six landmark pieces on the hills of East Lancashire. Means lots of investment coming in to the town and a kick start to the regeneration of the area. Design is still in development so we don't know what exactly it's going to look like yet but the general idea is that it will be an earth work. This is a totally natural approach to sculpture. Money is NOT coming from the Council before anybody asks, it's coming from central government and can only be used for this purpose and nothing else.

Re: Panopticons
 

oh i am with you now ,it s like the singing ringing tree in burnley ,i think i quite like that one ,dont know the accy area all that well .

Re: Panopticons
 

Yes, I've heard that one's for Burnley. I like it too. They're all going to be linked up when they're finished so that there'll be rambling trails.

Re: Panopticons
 

A Panoptican is a modern version of a Folly. Our Victorian & Edwardian forefathers, however, who built numerous follies on hill tops around Lancashire - Darwen Tower is probably the best known local example - knew how to build with wit, grace and style, and how to build something that would stand the test of time.

The modern Panotican, has nothing of these attributes. It is cheap to construct, serves only to disfigure the natural landscape and like the history of most public works of art in Accrington (such as the Scaitcliffe Fountain), has a shelf life somewhat less than that of a fruit fly. It's only purpose is to justify the spending of public money by various quangos and bureaucrats who have no other reason for being in existance.

There are of course, some very gullible people in the world, not least those who appear to have attended the Town hall meeting on saturday. It does look like many were so easily hoodwinked by the slick spin the artist and his bureaucrat paymasters put out. I can well imagine a thousand years ago these very same people buying up a chicken bone on the basis that it was the finger of Christ. Some are so dumb, you can sell 'em 'out.

Re: Panopticons
 

If you didn't go to the meeting how can you say that? Please don't insult my intelligence. Next time you want to say something do it from an informed position. There was no spin, just facts but you wouldn't know because you weren't there.

Plus, the Hyndburn sculpture is built so that it will last over 500+ years - not exactly a flash in the pan is it?

Re: Panopticons
 

Madame,

I doubt if you have any intelligence to insult.

Re: Panopticons
 

I would prefer to be able to have pride in a town with a decent shopping centre and clean streets. So many things could be done to improve Accrington but a blot on the landscape is not one of them.

Ah yes the Scaitcliffe fountain. That was a disaster from the day it was finished. The thing wasn't built properly so the waterfall effect never worked right and all it did was attract muck and rubbish. How often were any of the fountains actually working? And even when they were they weren't in sync. Mind you, the best thing you could say about it was that very few people actually saw it tucked away there at the bottom of Ormerod Street. I suppose you could say the same for the Panopticon on top of the Coppice as it can't be viewed from the town.

Why can't we just have the Arndale clock repaired and re-instated? More money wasted.

Re: Panopticons
 

So anyone who disagrees with you must be lacking in intelligence and thick, I presume. An exceptionally reasoned argument - NOT!

Re: Panopticons
 

Only in your case, Madame.

Re: Panopticons
 

I would have to agree with Willow a decent shopping centre is what Accrington needs, this will definately attract more people to the town and stop the locals going elsewhere to shop.

Whats this about a fountain????

Re: Panopticons
 

It has now been turned into a garden of sorts fibi and has the Ashton-Frost memorial cog in front of it.

I'll dig up a photo if I can find one.

Re: Panopticons
 

Re: Panopticons
 

Thanks for that Willow, looks like next time I go to my mums I will have to get my arse off the setee and have a drive round to see what else has changed