Latest news with #StarofCaledonia
BBC News
02-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Star of Caledonia at Gretna: Border artwork divides opinion
The designs for a landmark artwork near the Scotland-England border has divided opinion after the plans were revealed last 33m (108ft) high, the £10m Star of Caledonia hopes to attract up to 250,000 visitors a year to the Gretna Green it secures planning permission it is hoped the giant winding sculpture - complete with illuminated spikes - could be open to the public by Scotland News readers have been delivering their verdicts on the plans. Liz Chasey, from Aberdeenshire, was among those in favour of the proposals."I think the star is a wonderful way to celebrate the diversity of nations within the UK," she said."Transitioning from one country to another should be marked by a significant monument, plus large public sculptures are exciting and so capture the public's imagination." However, Gavin Whittaker from the Borders, who lives closer to the proposed site of the structure, was less impressed."Truly awful sculpture," he said."I'm so tired of having ever larger sculptures and so-called 'art' imposed on our landscapes, particularly when they come with lighting to draw your attention at night."For me, it's very simple: if I want to see art I can go to a gallery, what I don't want is having it foisted on me." For former Borders resident Phil Hawes who now lives it Norfolk, it was more a question of priorities."I'm not against the project but I think given the housing crisis, the money would be better spent on affordable housing for local people," he said."The design? Well, what is pleasing to one is unattractive to another - I'm not a fan."Irene Allison from North Lanarkshire had similar concerns."I cannot understand why you would even consider spending this money on this eyesore when people are struggling to heat (their homes) and feed their kids with rising costs for both," she said."Also councils have been deprived of funds and basic services are struggling due to lack of funding." Ian Blois from Invernessshire was more worried about the appearance of the Star of Caledonia."Looks like something designed by an architect for a 1970s inner city revamp," he said."Wrong design for a rural setting. More suitable for a new town roundabout."The Angel of the North works because it reflects the industrial heritage of Newcastle and appears to have risen organically from the surrounding landscape." A number of readers described it as a "waste of money" with Brenda Wallace from the Wirral going further and calling it a "hideous monstrosity"."If you must waste money on the horrible thing, please don't light it at night," she added. "The countryside is beautiful, why blot it with this?"Simon Hyslop from Dumfries said it was "one of the stupidest vanity projects and waste of money our area doesn't need"."We had plenty of visual outdoor assets in the form of the spectacular vistas now despoiled by wind turbines," he said."Give the money to the NHS or to provide the homeless with homes and food, or support neglected horses, dogs or donkeys." 'Very original' However, others approved of the way the project had been expanded to include more than just the Bade from Kent said he found the design "very attractive and very original".He thought that it was a "good idea for the accompanying visitor centre to be added".There will still be time for the public to have its say as the project makes its way through the planning and Galloway Council will have to give the green light before the Star of Caledonia can hope to shine.
The Independent
21-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Star of Caledonia sculpture plans for Scotland-England border submitted
Plans have been submitted in a long-running scheme to build a 33-metre high sculpture near Gretna Green which would stand taller than the Angel of the North. The Star of Caledonia would be a steel sculpture near the Scotland- England border visible from the A74(M), with a visitor centre and a small loch also included in the £10 million plans. It would be illuminated at night by 108 LED lights powered by renewable energy and is intended to symbolise the 'dynamism of the Scottish nation'. Artist Cecil Balmond created the design a decade ago but the site will not open before spring 2027 at the earliest. The artistic drawings use the concept of energy as a metaphor, with the curves in the design also intended to represent 'Scottish brainpower'. The trust behind the project says most funds have been donated by CWP Energy, though it says it could potentially receive public funding as well. Lucy Houston, chairwoman of the Star of Caledonia Trust, said her late husband Alasdair – a farmer and tourism business owner – had the idea of a border landmark in 2001 to help the region recover from the foot-and-mouth outbreak. She spoke to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme on Friday, saying the Star would stand taller than the Angel of the North in Gateshead. Ms Houston said: 'It's quite difficult to describe – it's almost like a DNA double helix. 'It's in painted grey steel and there will be 54 LED rods that come out of it, making a total of 108 lights.' The sculpture will sit on a grassy mound in a 38-acre landscaped site, she said, and would be a 'destination attraction'. Ms Houston said the trust is doing 'everything possible' to secure the remaining funding from sources such as the Borderlands growth deal. The foot-and-mouth outbreak had been a 'terrible, terrible time' for the area, she said, and Alasdair had wanted to contribute to the community. The trust hopes to begin construction next spring and welcome its first visitors in 2027. Planning councillors on Dumfries and Galloway Council will consider the proposals at a later date. David Mundell, the Scottish Conservative MP for Dumfriesshire, said: 'This is an exciting project for the Gretna area and I welcome the revised proposals and the solid basis now to bring the project to fruition. 'Outdoor artworks like the Angel of the North and the Kelpies have been hugely successful and brought economic benefit to their areas and I'm sure that will be the case with the Star of Caledonia.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Star of Caledonia sculpture plans for Scotland-England border submitted
Plans have been submitted in a long-running scheme to build a 33-metre high sculpture near Gretna Green which would stand taller than the Angel of the North. The Star of Caledonia would be a steel sculpture near the Scotland-England border visible from the A74(M), with a visitor centre and a small loch also included in the £10 million plans. It would be illuminated at night by 108 LED lights powered by renewable energy and is intended to symbolise the 'dynamism of the Scottish nation'. Artist Cecil Balmond created the design a decade ago but the site will not open before spring 2027 at the earliest. The artistic drawings use the concept of energy as a metaphor, with the curves in the design also intended to represent 'Scottish brainpower'. The trust behind the project says most funds have been donated by CWP Energy, though it says it could potentially receive public funding as well. Lucy Houston, chairwoman of the Star of Caledonia Trust, said her late husband Alasdair – a farmer and tourism business owner – had the idea of a border landmark in 2001 to help the region recover from the foot-and-mouth outbreak. She spoke to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme on Friday, saying the Star would stand taller than the Angel of the North in Gateshead. Ms Houston said: 'It's quite difficult to describe – it's almost like a DNA double helix. 'It's in painted grey steel and there will be 54 LED rods that come out of it, making a total of 108 lights.' The sculpture will sit on a grassy mound in a 38-acre landscaped site, she said, and would be a 'destination attraction'. Ms Houston said the trust is doing 'everything possible' to secure the remaining funding from sources such as the Borderlands growth deal. The foot-and-mouth outbreak had been a 'terrible, terrible time' for the area, she said, and Alasdair had wanted to contribute to the community. The trust hopes to begin construction next spring and welcome its first visitors in 2027. Planning councillors on Dumfries and Galloway Council will consider the proposals at a later date.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Scotland-England border landmark plan submitted
New plans have been submitted for a giant landmark artwork - the Star of Caledonia - to be built on the Scotland-England border near Gretna Green. The winning design for the project, by Cecil Balmond OBE, was selected more than a decade ago but building work has never started. The size of the star has been reduced slightly in the revised plans and the project - costing about £10m - will also include a visitor centre for the artwork which hopes to attract up to 250,000 people a year. Lucy Houston, who chairs the Star of Caledonia Trust, said the trust was delighted to have reached a milestone in a "very long journey". The idea of the landmark - hoping to emulate the success of the Angel of the North in Gateshead - first surfaced in the wake of the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001. It aimed to celebrate the area's role as a "gateway" between Scotland and England while also helping to boost the economy. A competition to design the massive structure was won in 2011 by Cecil Balmond's Star of Caledonia. Planning permission was secured but the project never made progress due to funding issues. It has now been backed by wind farm firm CWP Energy with the trust working to secure the public element of the costs which have risen steadily from an early estimate of £4m. It has also shrunk in size slightly from the originally planned 40m (120ft) to about 33m (100ft) high. The steel sculpture with LED lights will, nonetheless, still be a prominent sight for people crossing the border between Scotland and England. Ms Houston said: "I am delighted that the Star of Caledonia has reached a milestone on its very long journey, and I am relieved to see it move to planning in memory of my late husband Alasdair Houston. "As a trust, we are working very hard behind the scenes, pulling together feasibility, revenue and business models. "We are planning to start construction next spring, with a 12 to 15 month build - meaning that the Star of Caledonia will be up and open in spring 2027 - a full 25 years after its original conception." She said residents in the area had been supportive of the project. "We are excited to see the Star of Caledonia get a new home, as the project is not just about a landmark sculpture but as a catalyst for tourism, local economies, and community pride," she added. Rod Wood, managing director at CWP Energy, said the company was proud to be playing a part in seeing the landmark built. He said it was already "heavily invested" in Dumfries and Galloway with its wind farms but said the Star of Caledonia would "stand for generations" and could be a catalyst for tourism and boosting the economy. The revised plans have now been submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council for its consideration. They will be considered by planning councillors at a later date. Scotland-England border landmark plans on the move
BBC News
20-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New Scotland-England border Gretna Green landmark plan submitted
New plans have been submitted for a giant landmark artwork - the Star of Caledonia - to be built on the Scotland-England border near Gretna winning design for the project, by Cecil Balmond OBE, was selected more than a decade ago but building work has never size of the star has been reduced slightly in the revised plans and the project - costing about £10m - will also include a visitor centre for the artwork which hopes to attract up to 250,000 people a Houston, who chairs the Star of Caledonia Trust, said the trust was delighted to have reached a milestone in a "very long journey". The idea of the landmark - hoping to emulate the success of the Angel of the North in Gateshead - first surfaced in the wake of the foot-and-mouth outbreak of aimed to celebrate the area's role as a "gateway" between Scotland and England while also helping to boost the economy.A competition to design the massive structure was won in 2011 by Cecil Balmond's Star of permission was secured but the project never made progress due to funding issues. It has now been backed by wind farm firm CWP Energy with the trust working to secure the public element of the costs which have risen steadily from an early estimate of £ has also shrunk in size slightly from the originally planned 40m (120ft) to about 33m (100ft) steel sculpture with LED lights will, nonetheless, still be a prominent sight for people crossing the border between Scotland and England. Ms Houston said: "I am delighted that the Star of Caledonia has reached a milestone on its very long journey, and I am relieved to see it move to planning in memory of my late husband Alasdair Houston."As a trust, we are working very hard behind the scenes, pulling together feasibility, revenue and business models."We are planning to start construction next spring, with a 12 to 15 month build - meaning that the Star of Caledonia will be up and open in spring 2027 - a full 25 years after its original conception."She said residents in the area had been supportive of the project. "We are excited to see the Star of Caledonia get a new home, as the project is not just about a landmark sculpture but as a catalyst for tourism, local economies, and community pride," she Wood, managing director at CWP Energy, said the company was proud to be playing a part in seeing the landmark said it was already "heavily invested" in Dumfries and Galloway with its wind farms but said the Star of Caledonia would "stand for generations" and could be a catalyst for tourism and boosting the revised plans have now been submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council for its will be considered by planning councillors at a later date.
