Pendle's Panopticon 'Atom' was officially declared open today by Mayor of Pendle, Councillor George Adams and designer Peter Meacock at a celebratory event in Wycoller Country Park.
Panopticons, funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Lancashire Economic Partnership (LEP), is a visionary scheme to create a unique series of 21st century landmarks across East Lancashire by 2007, as symbols of the renaissance of the area.
Lancashire County Council (LCC), which owns and manages the Country Park, and is the lead partner in the 'Atom' project, identified the site for Pendle's Panopticon with a view to raising the profile of Wycoller, an established tourism gem of Lancashire, but one that many people have yet to discover.
Today’s event was the climax of three years’ work to create the unique, egg-shaped 'Atom', designed by Peter Meacock with Katarina Novomestska and Architects WCW. The bronze-coated 'Atom' provides both a striking contemporary viewing point and shelter from which to enjoy the stunning surrounding landscape, and an intriguing and beautiful object which can be viewed from afar.
In attendance were celebrity designer Wayne Hemingway and broadcaster and entrepreneur Anthony Wilson, along with representatives of the funding bodies, the County, the Borough and ELEAN, the multi-agency partnership behind the project, led by Mid Pennine Arts. Keynote speakers were Ian Whittaker, Policy and Partnership Manager (Lancashire), NWDA; Dennis Taylor, Chief Executive, LEP; Cllr Chris Cheetham, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, LCC; designer Peter Meacock and Wayne Hemingway.
Nick Hunt, Director of Mid Pennine Arts, and Master of Ceremonies, commented, “This is a proud day for all those who have worked so hard to achieve a second East Lancashire Panopticon. By contrast with our first Panopticon in Blackburn, an urban context, 'Atom' highlights one of the most beautiful rural settings in Lancashire. We hope it will encourage a wider public to discover Wycoller and from there to go on and explore the delights of the surrounding countryside.”
Image: 'Atom'
Further comments from key partners and notes to editors follow below.
For further information please contact Gayle Knight, Marketing Officer at Mid Pennine Arts, on 01282 421986 / 07767 383435
Ian Whittaker, Policy and Partnership Manager (Lancashire), NWDA
“I am really excited that we now have our second Panopticon in place. It is great to see this innovative project coming to fruition and this unique landmark will complement its spectacular surroundings in Wycoller. I’m sure it will prove popular with residents and visitors, as well as helping to increase the area’s appeal as an investment location. The Panopticons project will develop real assets for East Lancashire, adding to its splendid cultural, industrial and environmental heritage. I really look forward to seeing the creation of more of these very special works of art.”
Dennis Taylor, Chief Executive, LEP
"This iconic project, Panopticons, showcases Lancashire’s unique character – vibrant urban centres set amid superb countryside – and provides tangible evidence of its energy and ambition to bring about economic transformation, helping to attract or retain people who generate wealth through knowledge and creative ideas."
Cllr Chris Cheetham, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, LCC
"The landscape of Lancashire has been affected by every generation - it has been improved, added to and changed. The 'Atom' Panopticon is another change and I think it's an original and interesting addition. The idea behind it in promoting Wycoller is certainly a good one and I'm sure it will be successful in attracting more people to this beautiful area."
Vaughan Jones, Tourism and Community Initiatives Manager, Borough of Pendle
"Pendle Council is delighted to welcome 'Atom' to its list of visitor destinations across the Borough. Unlike some other over-trekked countryside 'resorts', here you can still feel at one with nature, investigate the Pendle Witches, go canal boating on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, do some great Mill Shopping, see a top show at Colne 'Muni' or choose from an amazing range of cuisines on Colne's Albert Road. Stay in one of our homely cottages or friendly B&B's and we'll have even more for you tomorrow! Rather than being a tourism backwater, Pendle is at the cutting edge and intends to stay there."
Notes to editors
• 'Atom' is sited next to the Haworth Road car-park at the top of Wycoller Country Park.
• A complementary education and creative arts programme, Land, offers schoolchildren and local people the opportunity to be directly involved in the development of the Panopticons through artist workshops, residencies and celebratory events. Visit www.land.uk.net
• Panopticons and Land are projects of the East Lancashire Environmental Arts Network (ELEAN), which aims to demonstrate the positive role of the arts and cultural activity in the social, economic and physical regeneration of East Lancashire. ELEAN is managed by Mid Pennine Arts and supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, the Lancashire Economic Partnership Regional Park programme, Arts Council England North West, Lancashire County Council, REMADE, Elevate East Lancashire, the East Lancashire Groundwork Trusts, United Utilities, the local authorities of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale, Pendle Leisure Trust and Rossendale Leisure Trust.
Contacts for further information:
• Northwest Regional Development Agency: Sarah Moston, Press Officer, on 01925 400552
• Lancashire Economic Partnership: Narina Riskowitz, Communications Officer, on 01254 300491
• Pendle Tourism: Mike Williams, Tourism Team Leader, Pendle Borough Council, on 01282 661981 or Tourist Information Centre, Pendle Heritage Centre, Barrowford BB9 6JQ, tel. 01282 661701
