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Mermaid designer needed for
exciting New Brighton commission
NEW Brighton's Mermaid Trail is moving
ever closer to becoming a reality as the process to commission a designer gets
underway.
Tenders are now being invited from artists and manufacturers for this exciting
project, which will see 6 mermaid statues installed across the New Brighton area
to attract visitors and pay homage to a popular local legend... the 'Black Rock
Mermaid.'
The successful designer will be the one that best meets the criteria set out by
the New Brighton Coastal Community Team (NBCCT), who are commissioning the
statues. This is outlined in the Request for Quotation documentation which
applicants will read before they submit their tender.
The statues will be identical in design; they will later each be 'customised'
by local youngsters or community groups; and feature an adult sized mermaid, in
a seated position upon a plinth. The successful designer will also be required
to manufacture the statues and get them ready for customisation and
installation.
Anyone who wishes to apply for the commission needs to register on The Chest
portal:-
The-Chest.Org.UK.
Submissions have to be made by noon on Tuesday, 13 September 2016.
The inspiration behind this project is the 'Black Rock Mermaid', who was
said to have appeared to a local sailor, John Robinson, in New Brighton, in the
18th Century.
The New Brighton Coastal Community Team (NBCCT) successfully bid for a grant of
£10,935 from the Burbo Bank Extension Community Fund, a grant scheme set up by
DONG Energy to benefit voluntary groups and organisations located near to the
coastline where it is carrying out the extension to the offshore wind farm.
It is hoped that the Mermaid Trail will be in place ready for visitors in late
spring 2017.
Cllr Tony Jones, Wirral Council's Pledge
Champion for 'Building a Vibrant
Tourism Economy' and Chair of the NBCCT, said:- "New Brighton is
steeped in maritime history and the revitalised New Brighton is committed to
building on this, bringing it back to life even as we look to the future.
This project will raise awareness of the legend of the Black Rock Mermaid and
will bring her story to the attention of the hundreds of thousands of visitors
the resort attracts each year. The trail is important to the areas as it will
take visitors away from the waterfront areas for a time and introduce them to
some of the attractions and unique character that can be found in different
parts of New Brighton.
The Mermaid Trail will help connect the distinct communities within the New
Brighton area and allow us to welcome even greater visitor numbers. The area is
already synonymous with community led creative arts activities and the Trail
will further cement this identity.
It is an extremely exciting time for everyone connected with the resort and our
thanks go to DONG Energy for supporting us with the grant from the Burbo Bank
Extension Community Fund."
The legend of the Black Rock Mermaid...
As well as being seen around Black Rock, the legendary mermaid was also
reputedly sighted near Leasowe Castle, along the stretch of sands called
Mockbeggar Wharf and on boulders that are now known as the Mermaid Stones.
The legend took hold when a Liverpool sailor, John Robinson, met her when she
came on board his ship after a storm killed the other members of his crew. By
being the 1st to speak, and by taking her comb and girdle, he had the power to
ask a wish of her. In return for his promise that he would see her again the
following Friday, she gave him a compass that would allow him to return to
shore - he agreed, and she kept her word.
When the time came for him to meet her again she was the 1 who spoke 1st,
thus gaining power over him... She then bewitched him with her singing, took back the
compass and put her ring on his finger, saying she would soon see him once
again. This time, however, when he returned to his home, he fell ill and died 5
days later! |
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£10 million new bridge
scheme in Liverpool enters key phase
A £10 million scheme to replace a
damaged bridge on a major route in and out of Liverpool City Centre moves into a
new phase. The weak bridge currently transports traffic over a disused
railway line to North Liverpool Docks and the works are seen as key to the new
Liverpool 2 deep water scheme. Work has already begun and that the A565 (Great Howard Street) will be
closed from 5am, on Tuesday, 30 August 2016, by contractors Grahan Construction.
The route will be closed in both directions between Chadwick Street and the MINI
garage, so the damaged bridge can be removed and replaced, with work expected to
go on into 2017.
It is a complex scheme that involves diverting existing utilities, demolishing
the old structure, rebuilding a new 1 and at the same time working to keep all
power lines operational.
2 official diversion routes will be in force:-
► For all traffic (including HGVs):- via Sandhills Road, Commercial Road,
Vauxhall Road and Leeds Street.
► For non-HGVs only:- via Dublin Street, Regent Road, Waterloo Road and Paisley
Street.
The works have been timed so they do not clash with any other planned roadworks
in the area, to make sure there is no additional disruption for motorists.
Further phases of the scheme between 2017 and 2019 will require lane
restrictions rather than a road closure, and will see:-
► The completion of dual carriageway on the A565 on Great Howard Street/Derby
Road between King Edward Street and Blackstone Street and Bankhall Street to
Millers Bridge.
► Improvements to Regent Road to make it more pedestrian and cycle friendly.
Over the next few years it is estimated that around £250 million will be spent
upgrading the City's roads carrying out improvements and tackling the historic
backlog of highways repairs.
Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, Cabinet member for regeneration, said:- "This
scheme is absolutely essential to improving traffic flow and we want to do
absolutely everything we can to minimise the disruption that is caused to
commuters and businesses while the work is being carried out.
We need to invest in our infrastructure so we are able to handle the increasing
amount of businesses, freight and people travelling to and through Liverpool.
This is especially important on this route due to the completion of the new
Liverpool 2 deep water port which is absolutely critical to the future economic
success of the city region and will help create and support many jobs."
Grahan Construction have delivered many complex bridge projects in recent years
including the award winning projects at Tennison Road, Croydon, Peace Bridge in
Northern Ireland and Rosie Hackett Bridge, Dublin.
We are also informed that
Graham Construction will be working collaboratively throughout the project with
Liverpool City Council and their designer, Amey, to engage local stakeholders in
order to ensure that investment in the scheme delivers benefits from start to
finish.
Local businesses, community groups, schools, colleges and universities will all
be encouraged to engage with the project team in order that the investment can
maximise potential benefits across Liverpool and Merseyside.
Grahan Construction Contracts Director Dave Brown said:- "We aim to
minimise the impact that this technically challenging scheme has on local
people, businesses and road users. We have collaborated closely with
Liverpool City Council to propose innovative construction techniques that has
enabled us to keep Great Howard Street open to traffic for longer than initially
envisaged. This has given us a great opportunity to help local businesses to
plan their activities around these major works on a key arterial route into the
city."
For more information about highways investment in the City visit:-
Liverpool.Gov.UK/BetterRoads, 'like'
Better Roads on Facebook or follow the project on Twitter @betterroadsliv. |
