Locals 'cross' over cross
PLANS to build a massive Celtic cross at the 'Gateway to Cornwall' have been criticised by residents who say they are strongly opposed to the plans.
The 20-metre (66ft) structure is intended to be the Cornish equivalent of Antony Gormley's Angel of the North in Gateshead, but protestors say money would be better spent on providing footpaths through Elwell Wood, next to the Tamar Bridge in Saltash.
Under the plans, the wood would be transformed into a public resource, with the structure designed by sculptor Simon Thomas as its centrepiece, but town resident Sharon Lambert says the woods, neglected for decades, should instead be cleaned and restored, and the facilities planned for the site, such as a community orchard, a fitness trail and a sensory garden, would be better placed elsewhere in the town.
Yesterday, however, Joe Ellison, the resident behind the plans, said many thought the design was 'an absolutely brilliant artistic masterpiece'.
This morning, Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project, and Cornwall Council chief executive Kevin Lavery will pledge their support at a briefing event.
Mr Ellison said a bold vision was needed. "The Angel of the North was considered ugly by some, but now it's widely seen as a masterpiece," he said.
He pledged that the trees would be retained because of their value as a sound buffer.
He is now in the process of applying for a £450,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Spaces flagship award, to secure the funding before any planning application can be placed.
Mr Smit and Mr Lavery will be given a guided tour of the site before answering questions from the media.
It is not the first time such a project has been earmarked for the town. A decade ago, plans were first mooted for a similar cross at Carkeel roundabout. However, the project never came to fruition.
This time around Mr Ellison, the project organiser and a former mayor, says he is much more confident, and feedback from most residents was positive.
A decision on funding is due in January.
7 Comments
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by Brian, Saltash Waterside
Sunday, November 01 2009, 6:02PM
“Not many locals are cross.. Just a few who are quite loud about it. The large majority support thsi project and want to see it happen.
Keeping my fingers crossed..”
by saltash sid, Saltash
Saturday, October 31 2009, 3:52PM
“What you are not told here is that a third of the cross will not be able to be seen from the road as the woods are below the line of the Tamar Bridge. Hardly the spectacle of the Angel of the North. Interesting that there was no mention of the work needed on the woods from supporters of the plans, aside of saving some trees "because of their value as a sound barrier". This sums up the value of the woods in these plans. I'm told that a certain Town Councilor feels that the planned facilities at Elwell would only attract "local drinkers" who would soon ruin the place. Clearly the work on the woods only provides an opportunity to secure the money needed for the recycled plans for the Cross. This site is clearly not right for the Cross, will be of no benefit to the locals and will not be comparable with the Angel of the North. A big waste of some big money.”
by Paul, Callington
Saturday, October 31 2009, 2:27PM
“An excellent idea, a great way to welcome people to Cornwall. I strogly disagree with the previous comment.
It gets my vote.”
by Percy Vere, sofa
Friday, October 30 2009, 3:02PM
“Mr Ellison said a bold vision was needed. "The Angel of the North was considered ugly by some, but now it's widely seen as a masterpiece," he said.
Ellison misses an important point. The Angel of the North appeals to everyone because it is not weighed down with small minded parochialism.
The cross proposed for Saltash would not be a symbol of welcome, but a reminder of the small mindedness of too many cornish people. Too often they are rude about "incomers" but want the money they bring into the county. A celtic cross would simply act as a warning to approaching travellers that they are about to enter a part of the country that is stuck in the dark ages and intolerant of outsiders.
Other areas which have proposed similar statues since the success of the Angel have avoided this pitfall, for example the proposal for the horse in Kent.”
by Jim, Saltash
Friday, October 30 2009, 1:10PM
“An excellent idea. Finers crossed for the cross.
It will be a real symbol of Cornwall for Cornwall. I'll be very proud to have it in Saltash.”