Statue to celebrate town's traveller fair rejected
Jake BowersPlans for a sculpture to celebrate a town's link to the Gypsy and traveller community have been turned down by a council.
Westmorland and Furness Council refused a planning application for a stallion statue on the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, to celebrate the town's role in hosting the annual horse fair - a big event in the traveller calendar.
The application, submitted by community interest company Drive 2 Survive, said the 7ft (2m) sculpture would be donated to the town as a thank you for hosting the event.
A decision notice by the council said the proposed site would "visually compete" with surrounding listed buildings, such as the Church of St Lawrence and St Lawrence's Bridge.
It said: "The proposal would undermine the inclusive and neutral amenity value of a well-used public space, with a significant number of local representations raising concerns about the impact of the sculpture's symbolic presence on community cohesion, emotional comfort and the shared use of the site."
It added while the "cultural intention" of the project was "fully acknowledged and respected", the applicant had not offered any "compelling justification" for the location of the sculpture and it could be located elsewhere.
Dozens of objections
The bank of the river is significant for the community, as it is where horses are traditionally washed during the event.
According to the artist's statement submitted with the application, outside the fair week, "very little tangible evidence" existed of the importance of the fair to the town and its Gypsy and traveller visitors.
A report prepared by council planning officers said the plans received 163 letters of support, 72 objections and 21 observation letters.
Residents' concerns included the "visual sensitivity" of the location and the prominence of the sculpture.
The report added: "Some local residents also expressed support for the proposal, welcoming the opportunity to celebrate a tradition that has shaped Appleby's reputation and economy."
Documents show the statue was one of 12 sculptures Drive 2 Survive was producing with funding from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.