Pictured above: Katie Yates, Sales Manager for Barratt West
Midlands showing off the new "peg" statue
Sculptures by the 'Angel of the North' artist have been
installed at the gateway to a West Bromwich estate undergoing a
multi-million pound transformation.
Fourteen specially modelled cast iron bollards produced by
Antony Gormley now line Moor Street and have a practical as well as
decorative function. The 99cm high bollards act as a safety
feature to separate traffic from the pedestrian area being created
at the entrance to the Lyng.
The unusual shapes - named snowman, peg and oval - have already
proved an entertaining talking point for local residents and
visitors to the town.
Guy Weston, a board member of Lyng Community Association (Lyng
CA), said: "These eye-catching bollards are designed to be
functional and yet visually pleasing as sculptures in their own
right.
"They have been chosen to enhance the entrance to the Lyng and
the new urban gateway to the town centre. The material they are
made of also celebrates the metal working and manufacturing history
of Sandwell."
British sculptor Gormley is best known for iconic public works
such as the landmark figure in Gateshead, and Another Place - 100
cast iron figures facing out to sea - on Crosby Beach, near
Liverpool.
Talking about the Lyng project, he said: "I love cast iron for
its strength and earthiness. I hope these simple forms will sit on
the street confidently and be guardians of its two users, the
pedestrian and the car. I look forward to them slowly popping up in
the urban world like mushrooms in the night."
Regeneration agency Urban Living funded the bollards, which have
cost around £600 each. They have been positioned in front of
the pedestrian area outside the new Lyng CA office and homes, which
are under construction as part of an ambitious scheme to transform
the estate with 350 new homes, open space and parks.
The estate redevelopment is being spearheaded by Lyng CA,
Barratt West Midlands and Sandwell Council. Lyng CA currently owns
and manages 86 homes for affordable rent on the estate and will
acquire an additional 114 through the scheme. Another 250
properties will be available for private sale through Barratt.
Residents began moving into the first of the new homes in
June.
Katie Yates, Sales Manager for Barratt West Midlands said, "We
are delighted to have installed these Gormley statues which create
a really interesting gateway to the new development at The Lyng.
Already the area is starting to look vibrant and with many of the
new homes now complete and occupied it's becoming a destination to
be proud of."