Lights go off on controversial arch
LIGHTING on a controversial city artwork which is supposed to be illuminated at night has been switched off after developing a fault.
The five-metre-tall metal and glass arch, in Gordon's Place, Heavitree, glows at night in a variety of bright colours.
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The lights which highlight the words around the Heavitree Arch are not working MARTIN WHITHAM EE160209_MW02_03
But lighting on the £172,000 arch has been switched off for several days.
Cllr Peter Wadham, portfolio holder for sustainable development and transport, said the problem was a temporary blip. He said: "The timing wasn't quite working. It had not been set as we wanted it, so they are resetting it to get it right and it should be on soon.
"I am not expecting a bill for it.
"These are times of austerity and we are counting every penny.
"The arch is something new and something different and I think it will be more and more accepted as an interesting local feature and I am certainly hearing from a number of people who really like it.
"But art is always controversial. It is supposed to make people think, so from that respect I do feel it has been a success."
But resident Martyn Beckett, who has been campaigning against the arch, said: "When it is lit up it is really very garish, and when it is not lit it is incredibly bland, so it doesn't really make any difference when they light it, it is not going to make it any better.
"It is obviously costing someone time to cure a fault which you would think should not have happened."
As reported in the Echo, recent improvements to the sculpture have cost the city council almost £5,000. The glass panel in the arch was damaged over Christmas, and replaced at a cost of £4,335.
A translucent vinyl has also been applied to the back of the glass to make it more legible, costing a further £261. The arch, called Voices of Heavitree, draws on aspects of Heavitree's identity, containing words from the writings of Exeter theologian Richard Hooker, the Heavitree yew and memories of local residents. But the contemporary structure has proved unpopular with some residents in Heavitree.
For months they have campaigned against the project, arguing that the money could be better spent to benefit the local community.
Protesters have also daubed a white elephant and other graffiti on the wall behind the arch to make their feelings clear.
The arch was part of a £578,800 environmental improvement scheme to regenerate the area.
2 Comments
by Jon, Exeter
Tuesday, February 17 2009, 1:15PM
“How many more column inches will ba taken up by other non-events involving this arch? All it acheives is to give whiners the opportunity to continue in their bleating. If you don't like it, take it out on the appropriate councillors at the ballot box. What next - will the E&E be reporting on the next light-bulb failure at the Civic Centre which will cost us a pound of our council tax? OK - the arch was the greatest of ways to spend money, but I think we all now have the point.”
by Steve, Heavitree
Tuesday, February 17 2009, 12:08PM
“"Not expecting a bill for it"
Right, so people work for free now do they?
If there is a bill - why not take it from a much needed budget, after all it is such an important matter....”