Cllr Jean Hawkins and Cllr Andrew Simpson at the proposed location of the Needle sculpture
Cllr Jean Hawkins and Cllr Andrew Simpson at the proposed location of the Needle sculpture
Liberal Democrat Councillors and Lib Dem run Northampton Borough Council have been calling for the proposed Needle Sculpture by Black Lion Hill to be withdrawn and re-considered following full public consultation.
On 21st January all Northampton Borough Councillors for all political parties called for the plans to be stopped. Both Northampton MP's have also called for a re-think.
The West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) who developed the plan say they still intend to press ahead regardless.
There is however a chance to stop the plans if Northamptonshire County Council who own the land where the Needle is to be located do not give permision for it to be constructed. Northamptonshire County Council are being pressed at their next meeting on XXX? to do this by both Liberal Democrat and Labour Councillors.
Liberal Democrat Councillor and parliamentary candidate for Northampton North constituency, Andrew Simpson, said "We are not against public art but we do think it should be subject to full public consultation. If it is right to spend this amount of money on a sculpture I think it would be better if it reflected the historical location on Northampton Castle".
Please support the campaign to 'Stop the Needle' by signing the petition below.
I the undersigned call upon Northamptonshire County Council to refuse permission for the locating of the proposed Needle sculpture on land near Marefair. I further call on the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) to withdraw plans for this scheme.
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Background
The plans for a piece of public art have been put forward by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) who secured funding of £365,000 for the scheme.
A small group of WNDC representatives and Council Officers agreed to a brief and shortlisted and selected a winning design. Only one elected Councillor was involved in the process (and he voted against it!).
Northamptonshire County Council then submitted plans to the WNDC Planning Committee for approval. The plans were approved on the casting vote of the Chair.
Northampton Borough Council has attempted to get the plans re-considered on a number of occasions most recently at a meeting of the Full Council when all Councillors backed a proposal for the current Needle plan to be scrapped.

 
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