Hopes that sculptures planned for the Wolds Way will attract more walkers
A £420,000 project to create a sculpture trail along the Wolds Way has divided opinion.
Regional tourist board Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) plans to install ten sculptures and six benches along the 79-mile route to attract tourists.
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COUNTRY STYLE: The Wolds Way, near Fridaythorpe. Inset, a model of one of the benches. Main Picture: Simon Kench
Despite being one of the country's most charming landscapes, the Wolds Way is the most under-walked national trail in England.
The "landmark" artworks will appear at locations including the Humber Bridge, Fridaythorpe, Millington and the dramatic Filey Brigg headland.
So far, £150,000 of funding has been secured from Leader, a European Community scheme managed by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.
VHEY says it is hoping to secure money from the Arts Council England, local authorities, grant-giving trusts and private sponsorship.
Andrew Allison, Hull and East Riding co-ordinator for the Taxpayers' Alliance pressure group, has criticised the move as "a waste of money".
He said: "It's spending of public money that is completely unnecessary, especially in today's financial climate."
Some parish councils would prefer money from Leader, which funds rural development, to be spent on more practical projects.
Hazel Acey, Fridaythorpe parish councillor, said: "We would prefer to see the money spent on a bus shelter than a sculpture.
"We want to see something practical that is of use."
However, others have defended the scheme.
Chris Waite, chairman of North Newbald Parish Council, said: "Anything that brings more interest in the area and hopefully more tourists is to be welcomed."
Janet Reuben, chief executive of VHEY, has said the trail had been a "community project" from the start.
Thixendale and Fridaythorpe residents are helping to choose the site for their village sculptures as well as deciding which artist will create the piece and what their brief should be.
It is hoped the first of the sculptures will be installed by the end of this year, and the total project complete within two to three years.
5 Comments
by ANDREW, BATLEY
Sunday, June 13 2010, 12:13PM
“I walked on the Wolds Way only yesterday and it was teaming with people, so I don't understand how they say it is undiscovered and need to attract more people to the area, part of the appeal for walkers is that an area is quiet and not overun with hordes of tourists. so to waste thousands of pounds which could be far better spent elsewhere on some sculptures may be counter productive and turn away walkers who are in search of peace and tranquility. Walkers don't need sculptures to look at it is the natural landscape that they are interested in, that is enough in it's self. Part of the Wolds (and already too many areas of our countryside) is already blighted by massive windturbines, which do nothing but destroy the natural landscape, they are an abomination. The wolds way has already recently had coverage on television and in walking magazines so it does not need these kind of trendy ideas to promote it.”
by Michael, Hull
Wednesday, June 02 2010, 10:51PM
“The Wolds Way is superb, I walk on it regularly. However, it's problem is access. If you live in Hull you have to drive to it, and then where can you park?”
by What, am I reading?
Wednesday, June 02 2010, 5:24PM
“People go to the Wolds Way to walk or ride mountain bikes... not to admire sculptures.
I know why don't we spend millions on some fibre glass animals in the fields for them to admire, and perhaps a fibre glass sun in the sky.”
by Nigel, Redruth, Cornwall
Wednesday, June 02 2010, 9:57AM
“Surely at each piece of art one should have a seat/bench in order to fully appreciate the sculptures?”
by E, Hull
Wednesday, June 02 2010, 9:53AM
“There should be a job lot of surplus fibre glass toads available locally in a few weeks.”