Decision due on plans for ‘Bolt of Lightning’ sculpture in Cheshire

An application proposing the ‘The Bolt of Lightning’ public art sculpture on Mountpark roundabout will come before the development management committee at its meeting next Wednesday. It relates to the first roundabout on Skyline Drive and an area of highway/footpath and verge on the southern side of Skyline Drive. A report to the committee says the closest residential properties are a distance of approximately 375m to the south of the application site roundabout where the sculpture is proposed to be located – while the site is south of the M62 motorway and west of junction eight of the M62 and Burtonwood Road.

The committee is recommended to approve the application, subject to conditions, with delegated authority given to the development manager following expiry of notification period for the site notice provided that no additional material objections are received that are not dealt with in the report, as well as delegated authority given to the development manager to make ‘non-material changes to planning conditions and reasons as may be necessary prior to the issue of the decision’. According to the report, the Section 106 agreement entered into as part of an application for residential development for up to 617 dwellings on land at Omega South, as well as a mixed-use area, included on obligation for public art. The report highlights that this stated that the public art scheme was to be submitted ‘as soon as practicable’ following commencement of development, and ‘not to occupy’ more than 318 residential units unless and until the public art has been completed in accordance with the public art scheme.

Planning permission is now sought for the proposed public art scheme and associated viewing area. The proposed sculpture would sit on an 8.4m x 8.4m square concrete plinth which would be 2m in height – while it would be 22.8m in height overall, including the plinth height, and 6.5m wide. “The Bolt of Lightning sculpture relates to the historical significance of RAF Burtonwood and the role it played during the Second World War,” says the report.

“The Bolt of Lightning depicts a Lockheed P-38F Lightning fighter aircraft rising to the sky after a dive, leaving trails behind it. The trails formed by the engines are referred to as ‘swooshes’ and are supported by four independent columns on a large plinth, forming the base of the sculpture. “Materials proposed are stainless steel for the aircraft and bolt fixings along with a concrete mix for the sculpture plinth.

The proposed lighting scheme consists of narrow beam spotlights at the top of sculpture’s swooshes, on top of the tail of the plane. These generate a gradient of light, washing the surfaces of the two swooshes. “The lighting scheme keeps the base in darkness to create the impression of the plane floating above it.

The spotlights, with narrow beams and framing to avoid light spillage to the sides, will be created in aluminium alloy with fixings in a material resistant to corrosion and safety glass lenses. “The applicant proposes that all the sculpture lighting shall be controlled solely by astronomical timeclock function. This will operate automatically based on the time of day and astronomical events such as sunset and sunrise, accounting for geographic location and calendar date.

The proposed lighting system will operate one hour before sunset until midnight.

“The proposed public art sculpture would create a local landmark paying homage to the area’s history.

The proposal is not considered to result in any harm to highway safety or visual amenity and the inclusion of the viewing area is welcomed to offer opportunities for pedestrians to understand the local significance of the design of the sculpture.”