Arts project given green light after location switch

A PUBLIC art project in Watlington has been granted planning permission.

Five sculptures of human heads inspired by the history, community and environment of the town will be installed to form a walking tour.

The aim is to create a “spine” which links the main town with the new housing developments at Red Kite View and Hampden Fields.

The sculptures will be installed at Asgard Green, land off Cuxham Road, Hill Road car park, Mansle Gardens and The Paddock.

The parish council had initially wanted to use land outside the town hall or St Leonard’s Church but these were dropped in a revised application last month following criticism.

Residents had sent in written objections to South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority. Emily Tucker, the council’s heritage officer, also described the town hall and church as unsuitable.

She said that the height, massing and design and close proximity of a sculpture would “result in harm to the significance of the Grade II listed town hall” and added that she had “concerns” about the proposal at St Leonard’s.

But Adrian Duffield, head of planning at the district council, said the amended proposal will have an “acceptable impact” on the character and appearance of the site, the surrounding area and the setting of nearby listed buildings.

He added: “It will also have an acceptable impact on residential amenity, highway safety and would secure appropriate tree protection measures.” Kristina Tynan, clerk to the parish council, called the trail “a very important contribution” to the town, describing it as “an imaginative and well-thought-out scheme”.

She said: “The project has intrinsic value. It is intended to stimulate a sense of place and belonging and to reflect the relationship of humans with their local environment.

“Subjective assessments of art installations and their visual impact are not material considerations in the determination of planning applications.”

Councillor Steve Bolingbroke, who has led the project, said: “The purpose of the trail is to connect the old town with the new developments.

“The sculptures being at the town hall and at St Leonard’s Church caused issues, so we withdrew these from the plans.”

He added: “The trail is all about building a community, not annoying residents.” Artist Joseph Hillier has already been commissioned to design the sculptures, which will measure 1m high. They will each represent elements of the town including Watlington Hill, the chalk stream, agriculture of the surrounding land and the people who live there.

All but one of the works will be made using ceramic.

Mr Hillier, whose best-known works include The Messenger, a giant public sculpture in Plymouth, has already started working on the heads in his studio in Northumberland.

The money for the project has come from grants from the developers behind Red Kite View and Hampden Fields.

Watlington Parish Council was hoping to install the sculptures in time for Oxfordshire Artweeks, which is scheduled to take place from May 2 to 25 next year, but they are expected to be ready in June.