Agency’s objection could sink Wirral’s Magic Boat

Dec 21 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

THE future of a controversial sculpture which was to be a major work of art on Wirral’s doorstep looked in doubt last night after the Highways Agency threatened to pull the plug on it.

The Magic Boat was designed as a “gateway” feature to be located on the roundabout where the A41 meets the M53 in Eastham.

The 30-metre high sculpture has trebled in price and grown from a small project into a structure which will dominate the local skyline.

It came under fire first when its costs spiralled from £100,000 to £300,000, and then was revealed to bear striking similarities to a sculpture called To The Skellig, which was created in 1995 in the parish of Caherciveen in County Kerry.

But Wirral Council said it was determined to press ahead with the project and even overcame initial reservations by planners from neighbouring Ellesmere Port and Neston Council.

Last night, it was revealed plans for the artwork could still end up unfulfilled after the Highways Agency said “at the 11th hour” it was considering objecting to the scheme.

Wirral Council officials reacted furiously to the agency’s position despite its offer to repay the council the £55,000 it has already spent on designing the sculpture.

And the council’s cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Pat Hackett, said he remained determined to see the Magic Boat built.

He said: “The Magic Boat is one of Wirral’s major regeneration projects which has the full support of councillors, the local community and private sector businesses in Wirral and has been approved for funding by the North West Development Agency.

“In developing this project, Wirral Council consulted with the residents and businesses of Wirral as well as neighbouring councils and the Highways Agency. At every stage, support for the project has generally been positive from all those involved.

“I was surprised to hear the Highways Agency is considering objecting to the planning application and not allowing the sculpture to be built on their land because of concern about future liabilities.

“To receive this information so late in the project development is totally unacceptable. If the Highways Agency do object to the planning application and will not allow the sculpture to be built on its site, then the project will be lost along with the funding secured, as the NWDA will not allow the council any further time to develop an alternative project to spend the £300,000 grant.”

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said their priority is public safety and they were taking urgent legal advice on the plans.

He said: “We have to consider whether the proposed gateway feature would be a distraction to motorists, and to understand the agency’s liabilities should a motorist claim it had been a contributory factor in an accident.

He added: “Ownership of the land on which the feature would be erected was only firmly established as recently as mid-November, and it is this late development which has influenced the agency’s view of the local authority proposal.”

liammurphy