Plans to create an arts trail in a district beauty spot have been given the green light – and the attraction is due to open this Spring.
Penistone Hill Country Park, near Haworth, will host the Wild Uplands Project, one of several art events being held as part of Bradford City of Culture.
It will feature works of four separate artists, and works will include a collection of 75 sculpted butterflies and a tower clad in sheep’s wool – reflecting the District’s industrial past.
Commissioned by the Bradford Culture Company – the group set up to run Bradford 2025 – the trail will be based in the park for a temporary basis.
The works are expected to be installed in May, and be removed in October.
A planning application for the sculpture trail was submitted by Bradford Culture Company late last year, and has now been approved by Bradford Council.
There had been one objection from someone who feared the artwork might be vandalised.
But planners said one individual fearing potential vandalism was not a valid reason to block a major part of Bradford’s City of Culture celebrations.
Other sculptures would reflect the flora of the District’s moorland and “mysterious beings from theology.”
Planners said: “The area is a popular, well used area by walkers and visitors to the surrounding area.
“The artworks would be sited within a public upland park and are for public benefit as part of the City of Culture celebrations.
“The temporary nature would ensure that impact on openness would only be for a short period and the public benefit as artworks are considered to comprise very special circumstances that outweigh any limited harm to the Green Belt.
“It is noted that existing sculptures are already sited in the park.
“The temporary nature of the installations will allow the site to be restored to its current condition.
“As the sculptures are public artworks, their design and appearance is subjective as with any form of art.”
There had been a single objection to the application. An individual had raised concerns that a a nearby public toilet block had been frequently vandalised, and that the “unwanted sculptures” could meet the same fate.
But planning officers said: “Comment has been received regarding concerns that the artworks will be vandalised.
“There is nothing to suggest that this will be case, the artworks are only a temporary feature and concerns regarding potential vandalism is for the management of the site and not a valid reason to withhold permission in this case.”
