Published: Wednesday, 25th November, 2009 2:02pm
Have your say on Alloa's art work
by Jamie MacDonald
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HOPES are high the planned art work and streetscaping in Alloa town centre will lead to an up turn in fortunes for local traders.
On Friday plans for the £2 million overhaul of the area were unveiled to the public at the Imagine Alloa Info Point, in the former Co-op building on Drysdale Street.
As a result of the work, pavements that previously had a patchwork effect after being dug up and uneven streets disabled people found difficult to manoeuvre along should become a thing of the past.
Artist Rob Mullholland hopes to engage the public in his plans for an installation which will be of four mirrored figures.
Rob told the Advertiser three of the figures, to be placed on the High Street, would be approximately two and a half metres high and represent historical aspects of the town and its industrial past.
Rob and the team at Imagine Alloa, the group behind the town centre plans, want locals to get in on the act and suggest a person the fourth figure should represent from the area and where in Alloa it should be sited.
He said, "The art work will not just be a static object, it changes as people go by and hopefully when they pass they will think that it looked different from yesterday or the last time they saw it.
"The statues will be made of a very high grade mirrored stainless steel normally used for marine work."
A similar project undertaken by the Stirling-based artist is on display at Aberfoyle where mirrored figures he created stand in a forest.
"People are quite intrigued by them at Aberfoyle," said Rob. "It is interesting to be able to interact, there's a slight distortion of their reflection.
"I think a lot of councils will be watching this to see what benefits it brings and hopefully it changes people's lives by bringing in jobs."
Work on the statues is set to begin this week as the materials are delivered to Rob.
Relaying of the pavements on Primrose Street, Drysdale Street, Shillinghill and High Street is already under way.
Granite is being used for much of the work which should bring a uniformity to the area. Stainless steel will be used for the street furniture and, where possible, street lights will be replaced by lights placed on buildings to ease clutter.
Chairman of the Access for the Disabled Group and the Disabled Awareness Group, Alastair Scott, said he was delighted with the town centre blueprint.
He continued, "I love what is being done. The steps in to shops will be taken away and we will be able to get in to shops and around the town.
"Our views have been listened to and there has been a lot of consultation with us. I have given suggestions about low kerbs and getting into shops and it has been taken on board."
The aim of the work, paid for by the Scottish Government's town centre regeneration fund, is to increase the survival rates of start up businesses and increase the local job opportunities.
Also identified as a priority is an increase in tourism, income, footfall and the quality of life.
Provost Derek Stewart welcomed those attending the opening of the Imagine Alloa Info Point and spoke of his aspirations for the project.
He said, "I am very impressed with the plans and hope it enhances the town centre. I think once the work is done people will appreciate what it will bring to Clackmannanshire."
Speaking of the competition to suggest a person for the fourth statue to be based on, Mr Stewart added, "I would like it if they could get somebody with a long history in Clackmannanshire."
Suggestions for the person to be immortalised as the fourth statue can be added in the comments box below. Please also add why you think this person should be chosen and where the statue should sited.
Have your say. .
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Jimmy Neebur
Unregistered User
Nov 26, 04:15
Comment: 6500
The choice fur the fourth person is simple. I wid like to see the provest himself immortalised in yon mirrored steel. Derek Stewart is a fine ambassador for the Wee County and his inclusion wid represent a link tae modern Alloa. Pitting party politics and aw that stuff tae wan side, the provest does a crackin job fur us neeburs and ah think he should get some long overdue credit.
Not sure where the best place wid be fur yon statue. Maybe right at the tap of the high street now that the anchor is moved.
Anyway, ma vote goes fur Provest Derek Stewart. Ah can imagine tourist folk fae faraway places posin fur photos beside it.
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Greg Arius
Unregistered User
Nov 26, 09:39
Comment: 6504
A like yer idea Jimmy but yer man Rob wid need some size o workbench tae get a model o big Deek manufactured! Ye'd blind planes passin owerhied.
As a an idea about who tae have as model nummer 4-What about the last peson wae common sense hitchin a lift oot the toon at the Clackmannan roondaboot?
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Fonzie
Unregistered User
Nov 26, 19:26
Comment: 6520
Why not go for the Advertiser's very own John Simpson? He's been doing the Wasps games for years so could put it up outside Recreation Park.
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Chris
Unregistered User
Nov 29, 05:42
Comment: 6566
How about Guttie on his bike, White sandshoes and all. An old Alloa character!!!
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the scone
Unregistered User
Nov 30, 08:36
Comment: 6577
Allan Hansen thats the fella, get a statue of him on th go.
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Jimmy Ried
Unregistered User
Nov 30, 15:46
Comment: 6587
How long do we have to sppend the money?, because it would be good if we could have a statue of the next person that can find a job in the wee county,but then again maybe we would have tow ait to long on that one, so what about a statue of the person{s} responsible for the mispent 7 million from the councils budget?, now that would give folks something to throw there rotten fruit at, better still just get the folk responsible and march them up and doon the high street holding a banner that reads{Im overpaid and cant do nowt properly},that would be more fitting...Guttie 3rd Choice or Spider Mc Queeny.
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Jimmy Ried
Unregistered User
Nov 30, 15:53
Comment: 6589
How long do we have to sppend the money?, because it would be good if we could have a statue of the next person that can find a job in the wee county,but then again maybe we would have tow ait to long on that one, so what about a statue of the person{s} responsible for the mispent 7 million from the councils budget?, now that would give folks something to throw there rotten fruit at, better still just get the folk responsible and march them up and doon the high street holding a banner that reads{Im overpaid and cant do nowt properly},that would be more fitting...Guttie 3rd Choice or Spider Mc Queeny.
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Tom Hardman
Unregistered User
Nov 30, 21:17
Comment: 6598
Not a statue for the town centre but a future one of Alan Hansen to be placed at Lornshill School
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Jimmy Neebur
Unregistered User
Dec 1, 17:50
Comment: 6625
The problem wae havin a statue of a quality defender like yon Alan Hansen is that naebody wid be able tae get by him. Ah kin see it now.... Weans gettin tripped up, folks shirts been pulled, not tae mention auld folk gettin the legs whipped away fae them ... it wid be chaos.
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Andy Stafford
Unregistered User
Dec 4, 23:43
Comment: 6711
Derek Stewart looks like he's been living it up a bit since becoming provost.
If council wishes to cut costs - stick Derek on a diet and ban him from the council canteen.
And if the art work is any good, sell it to pay the county debts off.
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jimmy neebur
Unregistered User
Dec 5, 02:29
Comment: 6712
"If council wishes to cut costs - stick Derek on a diet and ban him from the council canteen." How wid that work?... it's no a free canteen they've got in yon HQ ye ken. The provest dis a grand job... lay aff him.
Anyway, if aw the neeburs paid their cooncil tax then things widnae be as bad as they are. Oor cooncil has a lower collection rate than the rest of Scotland according tae that wee pamflet that came oot wae the cooncil tax lat year. Ah pay ma cooncil tax on time bit there are neeburs oot there that dinnae bother and sponge aff the rest of us an hope the cooncil willnae chase them up fur payment. Ah think ma suggested statue of the provest should feature him hauding a big muckle sign that displays the names of aw the freeloaders that us hard workin taxpayers are subsidising. Name and shame.
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Andy Stafford
Unregistered User
Feb 5, 16:10
Comment: 8456
"Anyway, if aw the neeburs paid their cooncil tax then things widnae be as bad as they are."
Jimmy, why aren't you leading the council instead of Janet C?
But of course it not just the freeloader council tax evader's that cause the problem, they don't pay their rent either. This council is a mess.
I agree the provest is grand - tres grand!
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Emily Robson
Unregistered User
Feb 27, 18:06
Comment: 9122
"I think a lot of councils will be watching this to see what benefits it brings and hopefully it changes people's lives by bringing in jobs."
Wow; that's ambitious. What exactly are Andy's 4 tall men going to do? I appreciate that they have the potential to enhance the town centre, not only by flooring any weekend revellers who decide to pick a fight with their reflections (stainless steel will probably beat intoxicated flesh). However, these 4 guys have got their work cut out for them if they are expected to create new jobs; so far it seems they, as part of Imagine Alloa, have only put existing ones in new danger: already the business people within the area of regeneration are feeling hard-hit by the financial demands on them by the Imagine Alloa initiative (a financial levvy, in addition to damaged trade due to the disruptive roadworks).
There is a real feeling of distance between the decisions made within the council and those in private business. The Provost, I'm sure, is a super chap, but perhaps some other members on the boards of the powers that be need to make a concerted effort to improve their communication with the people of Alloa, specifically those on the affected streets of regeneration.
It would be a very sad day to see the 4 figures reflecting only further loss of local business; an Alloa heading closer to becoming tumbleweed town than triumphant gem of Clackmannanshire.
What do we really need in the town centre? Who do we wish to attract? Whose opinions should be heard? Will our granite pavements and reflective men really save the day? I have my hat ready.
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