Latest news with #AndyConnell
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
New plans for controversial Appleby statue submitted
REVISED plans for a controversial artwork in Appleby have been submitted to Westmorland & Furness Council. The application to install the Gypsy Stallion sculpture is now proposing to site it on land off Roman Road after the original application was rejected in April. According to the decision notice issued by the council the proposed 2.1-metre-tall sculpture, originally planned on the River Eden, would have 'eroded the neutral and harmonious relationship between the built and natural environment in this part of the town'. The council said the siting of the Gypsy stallion sculpture would visually compete with surrounding listed buildings including the Grade I listed Church of St Lawrence and the Grade II listed St Lawrence's Bridge. After the plans were refused the decision notice from the council stated: 'While the cultural intention of the proposal is fully acknowledged and respected, no compelling justification has been provided for locating the sculpture in this specific, highly sensitive position. 'It is considered that the commemorative aim could reasonably be delivered in an alternative location without resulting in such harm, and the public benefit is not sufficient to outweigh the identified heritage impact. 'Furthermore, 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.' According to the artist's statement submitted with the application, outside the fair week, 'very little tangible evidence' exists of the 'central importance' of the fair to the town and its Gypsy and Traveller visitors. It adds the Gypsy and Traveller community would like to donate a public sculpture to the town of Appleby to make this 'crucial' part of the town's heritage more visible. The statement reads: 'It celebrates our history, culture and horses, and is intended as a thank you to the town for hosting an event that is like a spiritual pilgrimage for us.' Ward councillor Andy Connell (Appleby and Brough, Lib Dems) has commented on the proposal and said: 'This is a much better option than the previously proposed site on the riverbank, and has the support of at least some local previous objectors. 'It will be a striking and handsome feature at the main entrance into the town. Allusion to the annual Appleby Horse Fair won't be to everyone's taste; but it happens and the town is renowned for it.' However, a spokesman from the Appleby Fair Communities Group, said: 'Many of the issues raised, and reasons for refusal, in the original application remain unresolved and still relevant, particularly the distress that this statue will cause to many local residents. 'For a significant portion of the community, the Appleby Fair is not a celebration but a source of disruption, anxiety, and hardship. Installing a permanent statue commemorating the event is highly likely to deepen these feelings and worsen community division. 'The group behind this statue have shown themselves to be tone deaf and either have not listened to the original feedback or simply don't care. 'It appears they have ignored what many residents said and simply re-submitted their application for a different location, which I find quite bullish. 'The statue itself is little more than a Trojan horse — a supposed gift designed to impose an identity on the town that many do not recognise as their own, stamping ownership where none has been earned. It is certainly noteworthy that funding and effort can be readily found for a statue, with strong advocacy to ensure its installation, yet there seems to be no similar energy spent on funding the event itself. 'Instead, the expectation remains that local taxpayers will shoulder the burden. This is particularly jarring at a time when many residents are struggling to afford basic necessities, such as heating, while council tax continues to rise. The contrast is striking and unjust.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Evergy: Make sure your balloons don't blow the power grid
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — They're shiny, festive, and perfect for Mother's Day, graduations, and backyard birthday bashes — but those popular mylar balloons can be more trouble than they're worth if they float away. That's the reminder from Evergy this spring as part of National Electrical Safety Month. The utility company is asking partygoers to think twice before releasing helium-filled balloons into the sky. 'Mylar balloons are very conductive to electricity,' Andy Connell, Evergy's Public Safety Manager, said. 'It's important people understand the danger behind having them get away and up into overhead power lines.' Wesley gets high marks for maternal care from KPQC The lightweight, metallic-coated balloons may look harmless, but Connell said they're a common culprit behind unexpected power outages. When they make contact with power lines, they can short transformers, melt wires, and cause flickering lights — or even full blackouts. To avoid an unplanned outage with your celebration, Evergy suggests: Always tie balloons to a weight heavy enough to keep them grounded. Never release balloons outdoors — even in a group setting. When the party's over, deflate the balloons by puncturing them, then toss them out properly. And if a balloon gets stuck in a power line? Don't try to retrieve it. Just call Evergy and let the pros handle it. So go ahead — decorate big, celebrate loud, and take all the photos. Just make sure your balloons don't crash the grid. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Telegraph
11-04-2025
- Telegraph
Horse statue to celebrate Appleby's gipsy fair ‘offensive to locals'
The Appleby Horse Fair takes place over a week in June and usually attracts up to 10,000 Roma and travellers, as well as hundreds of horse-drawn cars and 30,000 visitors. Horses are washed and ridden in the River Eden in a tradition that has its origins in the 18th century. In a statement submitted to the council, Mr Bowers said 'very little tangible evidence exists of the central importance of the fair to the town and its Gipsy and traveller visitors'. He added: 'As a permanent fixture in the life of the town and the culture of Gipsies and Travellers, the Gipsy and Traveller community would like to donate a public sculpture to the town of Appleby to make this crucial part of the town's intangible heritage more tangible and visible.' Appleby Town Council supported the proposal, as did many of those living in the town. In total, there were 163 letters of support and 72 objections. Councillor Andy Connell gave his blessing, but added: 'Local responses will inevitably reflect the extent to which individual residents enjoy, tolerate or resent this undoubtedly disruptive occasion.' Planning officials said they considered the proposal 'culturally significant, both artistically and symbolically', adding: 'A large number of supportive comments have identified the sculpture as a gesture of inclusion, recognition, and heritage preservation. 'The commemorative intention behind the application is therefore fully acknowledged and respected.' But they also warned that because of the statue's size and shiny nature it would compete with views of nearby heritage assets including the Grade I listed Church of St Lawrence and St Lawrence's Bridge. The stallion statue is part of a series of sculptures to be erected across Britain, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. It is not known whether the applicants will move the sculpture's location and reapply.
