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‘Landmark will attract visitors’

27/ 1/2005

MID-PENNINE Arts has defended the panopticons scheme, saying it will help bring people into Hyndburn.

Spokeswoman Gayle Knight said: "The idea is to try to encourage people into the area so they can use the hill for tourism and leisure.

"Anyone who goes to see the sculpture on the Coppice will want to see it from down below as well, and that will bring people into the town.

"Many people travel to Gateshead to see the Angel of the North and they then spend money there.

"Accrington will be the central part of the scheme, surrounded by five other areas with a panopticon. It is essential the area doesn't miss out on this."

She also responded to criticisms that the money for the sculpture should be spent on restoring the Coppice's historic trenches.

She said: "It was a condition of the brief that artists must consider the trenches when they came up with designs.

"At least two of the plans put forward involve enhancing and working with them.

"The council is welcome to use its money to renovate the trenches if it wants, but the money that is available to us can only be used for building the panopticon. We cannot take any other money from elsewhere."

Anyone with queries about the scheme should contact Mid-Pennine Arts on 01282-421986.