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AGENDA ITEM NO. 10
REPORT TO: Executive Board
REPORT NO: HAED/05/11
DATE: 10 May 2011
LEAD MEMBER: Councillor R.J. Dutton O.B.E. (Communities and Performance)
LEAD OFFICER: Head of Assets and Economic
Development
CONTACT OFFICER: Isobel Watson (Tel: 292457)
SUBJECT: Public Works of Art in Wrexham Town Centre
WARD: Grosvenor, Brynyffynon, Maesydre, Smithfield,
Offa
1. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
To request Member approval for the installation of a public work of art in Wrexham town centre.
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.1 Wrexham County Borough has a good reputation for its public works of art that help to create a vibrant atmosphere and a centre of interest for visitors and local communities.
2.2 A local company has proposed giving the Council a large sculpture of a dragon to celebrate, and leave a legacy for, the Year of Culture 2011 (Appendix 1).
2.3 Officers have studied a number of sites that may be suitable for the installation of a sculpture (see Options appraisal) and have identified the roundabout linking Chester Street, Holt Road and Smithfield Road as the place most suitable.
2.4 If the Council accepts the gift it will assume responsibility for the structure and any liabilities associated with the installation.
3. RECOMMENDATIONS
That Members:
i) agree to the proposal that the dragon sculpture is sited at the roundabout linking Chester Street, Holt Road and Smithfield Road.
ii) that this item to be dealt with as a matter of urgency in accordance with Standing Order 43(1) of the Council’s Standing Orders.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
The installation of the sculpture at a roundabout would mean that it was highly visible whilst not being accessible and that as planning permission needs to be sought and obtained prior to installation there is a deadline to ensure that the installation takes place in the Year of Culture.
Stephen Bayley
Head of Assets and Economic Development
4. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
(a) Overview
4.1 The term public art properly refers to works of art in any media that have been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited or staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all. There is a history of public works of art in Wrexham across the County Borough.
4.2 Public art generates a culture of creativity and helps to promote the image of a creative place. Artwork can imbue spaces and places with a unique quality and create a visually stimulating environment.
4.3 In Wrexham town centre, public works have been introduced at many sites and in many forms, including the mural on the external wall of the Oriel, the Arc on Lord Street, the seating in Queens Square, the steps on High Street and the Bend in the River on St Giles’ link road.
4.4 Members will be aware that 2011 is Wrexham’s Year of Culture (CEDO/03/10). Officers have been working with a number of individuals and organisations during the Year of Culture and as a result of these contacts there has been an offer of an installation for the town centre. The artwork will remain in place after the Year of Culture as a long-term legacy for the town.
4.5 Potential sites have been identified for the installation based upon a number of criteria :
(a) public space where there is sufficient room and the sculpture can be seen easily;
(b) CCTV coverage; and
(c) away from traffic/vehicular movement.
(b) Dragon Sculpture
4.6 Poplar’s Forge, a local company, has stated that it wishes to donate a sculpture to the town centre for a minimum period of three years after which it could be updated.
4.7 Poplar’s Forge (www.dragonstatue.co.uk) creates dragon sculptures and, in order to help the County Borough to celebrate the Year of Culture, has offered to install a dragon sculpture (see photograph in Appendix 1) in the town centre. The sculpture itself would be sited on a plinth that Poplar’s Forge would create as part of the installation. The plinth would have plaques with a reference to the Year of Culture 2011.
4.8 The dimensions of the dragons are: The actual Dragonheight 1550mm (approx 5 ft); width 1000 mm (approx 3’3”); depth 1100 mm. The weight of the Dragon is approx 80kilos (180 lbs), The Stand Height is approx 2400 mm(approx 8 ft) to the base of the plinth. The sculpture is made in Mild Steel, weatherproofed and then coated with a vinyl paint to ensurethat it remains weatherproof. The plinth will raise the sculpture so that it is highly visible and will also act as a deterrent against vandalism and the sculpture being climbed.
4.9 Planning permission would be required for the artwork.
5. CONSULTATION
5.1 Consultation has taken place with the Town Centre Forum and the Chamber of Trade and Tourism. Both bodies are in favour of the installation.
5.2 The local Member, Lead Member for Regeneration and Corporate Governance and the Lead Member for the Year of Culture have all been consulted and are all in favour of the recommendation.
6. SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMENTS
6.1 This matter has not been considered by a Scrutiny Committee.
7 IMPLICATIONS
7.1 Budget – the Assets and Economic Development Department would be responsible for any repairs required to the sculpture. There is no ongoing maintenance requirement. The cost of installation would be planning application (£166), engineering works at the site (£2,000). The funding will be taken from the Year of Culture budget.
7.2 Legal - the Council will assume responsibility for the structure and any liabilities associated with the installation..
7.3 Staffing – there are no staffing implications.
7.4 Diversity (Equalities) – upon the advice of the Equalities Manager, an impact assessment is not required for the installation as there are no access/equalities issues.
8.0 EVALUATION OF OPTIONS
A number of different locations were considered (Appendix 2) and the roundabout linking Chester Street, Holt Road and Smithfield Road as the place most suitable (Appendix 3)
BACKGROUND PAPERS / LOCATION / WEBSITE INFO.www.dragonstatue.co.uk
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Location / Benefits / ThreatsLlwyn Isaf in front of the Guildhall / · This would be in front of the civic centre for Wrexham
· CCTV coverage is good / Some vehicular movement in the area, especially when events are held on Llwyn Isaf
Museum forecourt / · Highly visible
· CCTV coverage
· Tourist/visitor destination / Accessible to pedestrians. May be subject to damage.
Hope Street in front of Barclays / · Highly visible
· CCTV coverage / High level of vehicular movement which could lead to damage to the sculpture.
Pedestrian area in front of Guildhall/Library / · Highly visible
· CCTV coverage / Accessible to pedestrians. May be subject to damage.
May require conservation planning consent.
May require permission from HLF.
Roundabout in front of the entrance to Asda / · Highly visible
· Not accessible for pedestrians / Poor CCTV cover.
Possible issue with sight lines.
Roundabout linking Chester Road, Holt Road and Smithfield Road / · Highly visible
· CCTV coverage
· Not accessible for pedestrians
· Would become a directional symbol for the town (‘Turn right at the dragon roundabout to get to the Guildhall’)
· No issue with sight lines (see appendix iii)