Latest news with #Drive2Survive
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Horse artwork plan resubmitted after location move
Plans for a sculpture to celebrate a town's links to the Gypsy and traveller community have been submitted again after being rejected. In April, 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 community interest firm Drive 2 Survive, which is behind the statue, has amended its proposal, with the artwork now planned for Salt Tip Corner, opposite the entrance to Roman Road. The firm said it hoped the sculpture, which would be 7ft (2m) tall on top of a concrete plinth, would be "visible and celebrated". Previous plans for the sculpture were rejected by the council following backlash by locals over the "impact of the sculpture's symbolic presence on community cohesion, emotional comfort and the shared use of the site", according to the council. A report prepared by council planning officers said those plans received 163 letters of support, 72 objections and 21 observation letters. The new plans are currently in consultation. According to an artist's statement submitted with the application, the team has chosen the new location because it is where the most expensive horses are bought and sold for cash during the fair. It said the sculpture was intended to make the contribution of the Gypsy and traveller community to Appleby "visible, permanent and celebrated". It said when the fair was not on, there was "little tangible evidence" of the event in the town. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Statue to celebrate town's traveller fair rejected Plan for statue to celebrate town's traveller fair Westmorland and Furness Council
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Plans for rejected Appleby horse sculpture resubmitted
Plans for a sculpture to celebrate a town's links to the Gypsy and traveller community have been submitted again after being rejected. In April, 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 community interest firm Drive 2 Survive, which is behind the statue, has amended its proposal, with the artwork now planned for Salt Tip Corner, opposite the entrance to Roman firm said it hoped the sculpture, which would be 7ft (2m) tall on top of a concrete plinth, would be "visible and celebrated". Previous plans for the sculpture were rejected by the council following backlash by locals over the "impact of the sculpture's symbolic presence on community cohesion, emotional comfort and the shared use of the site", according to the council.A report prepared by council planning officers said those plans received 163 letters of support, 72 objections and 21 observation new plans are currently in consultation. 'Celebrate Gypsy community' According to an artist's statement submitted with the application, the team has chosen the new location because it is where the most expensive horses are bought and sold for cash during the fair. It said the sculpture was intended to make the contribution of the Gypsy and traveller community to Appleby "visible, permanent and celebrated".It said when the fair was not on, there was "little tangible evidence" of the event in the town. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Horse statue to celebrate Appleby's gipsy fair ‘offensive to locals'
A stallion sculpture to celebrate gipsies and travellers has been refused planning permission because it may not be inclusive enough to locals. Blacksmith Jake Bowers had wanted to install his statue on the banks of the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria – which is the site of the large annual gipsy horse event – as a 'gesture of inclusion' to marginalised traveller communities. But planning officials have turned it down, arguing it may not take into account the 'anxiety, antisocial behaviour, and distress' experienced by some local people during the yearly fair. Mr Bowers created the large statue from galvanised steel, measuring 2.1m by 3.5m. It was to be placed on a plinth next to the river. The application was put into Westmorland and Furness Council by community interest group Drive2Survive in February. But planners turned down the application, saying they had to consider 'social cohesion' and that it competed with nearby historic buildings. A report written by planning officer Aneena Cheriyan said: 'A large number of residents expressed concerns about amenity and social impact. 'The sculpture's association with the Appleby Horse Fair was cited as a source of emotional discomfort and division for some members of the community, with references to anxiety, antisocial behaviour, and distress experienced during the annual event. 'Some objectors expressed concern that the sculpture would extend that symbolic presence year-round in a space currently valued for its neutrality and quiet recreational use.' Ms Cheriyan added: 'Some public comments described deeply personal and emotionally distressing experiences during previous fairs. 'While individual incidents or allegations fall outside the scope of planning, these submissions highlight the perceived emotional and symbolic impact of the proposal on residents' relationship with this public space. 'Such perceptions, even if not measurable in physical terms, are relevant to the planning consideration of amenity and social cohesion… which requires developments to create 'safe, inclusive and accessible places' that promote 'a high standard of amenity for existing and future users'. 'The proposal, by creating a strong cultural statement within a shared and sensitive space, has the potential to alter the way the area is used and perceived. 'The result, for some, could be a diminished sense of belonging or comfort in a space that has previously served as neutral ground for all members of the community.' 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. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Appleby statue to celebrate horse fair rejected
Plans for a sculpture to celebrate a town's link to the Gypsy and traveller community have been turned down by a 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 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 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 concerns included the "visual sensitivity" of the location and the prominence of 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. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- BBC News
Appleby Stallion statue to celebrate town's Gypsy heritage
A statue of a stallion aims to celebrate a town's role in the lives of Gypsy and traveller communities, its creator has in Cumbria is famous for its horse fair, which takes place every June and attracts scores of Gypsies and travellers making the journey for the yearly interest company Drive 2 Survive has applied to Westmorland and Furness Council for permission to install the Appleby Stallion sculpture by the River Eden, where horses are traditionally washed during the artist blacksmith Jake Bowers, a director at the company, said the statue would be a gift to the town. In documents submitted to the council, Mr Bowers said: "It celebrates our history, culture and horses, and is intended as a thank you to the town."Mr Bowers added he brought a mobile forge to the fair for the last two years to start working on the sculpture, which was completed and galvanised in autumn 2024. Planning documents show the statue's location was agreed in principle by Westmorland and Furness is one of 12 sculptures the company is producing with funding from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, which will be installed across the country to celebrate Gypsy and traveller Town Council wrote to Westmorland and Furness Council to express its support for the said the chosen location was "perfect" and they were looking forward to welcoming the statue "in its full glory".Billy Welch and and Bill Lloyd, of the organising committee, also sent a joint statement of support."We wish to support this proposal for a fitting memorial to the beauty and vibrancy of our culture and the spirit of the horse," they said.A consultation on the plans is currently under way as part of the planning process and Westmorland and Furness Council is expected to make a decision in due course. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
