An artful approach at Pooley Country Park
A new public work of art to be created on the former spoil heap at Pooley Country Park in Polesworth after Warwickshire County Council’s Regulatory Committee granted planning consent.
The work, a ‘golden tower of leaves’, has been commissioned as part of the regeneration of Pooley being delivered by the county council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). It was chosen following consultation with local people to help revitalise and create a strong identity for the area’s regeneration.
The decision by the committee will see the leaf tower become a landmark on the site of the old Pooley Hall colliery to complement other improvements including creating a spiral path up the former spoil heap.
Cllr Tilly May, county councillor and North Warwickshire Area Committee chair, said: “I am delighted that this important piece of artwork has been given the go ahead and will be the new focal point for this lovely country park.
“I believe that this unique tower will be a great asset to Pooley Country Park and is the final piece of the regeneration which will help attract even more visitors to the park. I am sure it will become a much loved landmark by the people in the years to come.”
The public art is being funded through the HCA’s National Coalfields Programme as part of its investment into the wider regeneration of Pooley.
Paul Spooner, director for the Homes and Communities agency West Midlands said: “We are pleased that HCA funding has enabled the scheme to get underway and this arts project, which has been developed with the local community, will make a real mark on the long term regeneration of the area.”
Paula Cheesman, Warwickshire County Council’s Country Parks Visitor Development Manager added: “This is the culmination of a huge amount of work with park visitors, the local community and the artists to create a lasting centrepiece for the park.
“The regeneration project is essential to ensure the success of Pooley Country Park and it has been great to see so much involvement from the public.”
The artwork was chosen from a range of concepts presented to a steering group. The ‘golden tower of leaves’ was selected as it is an idea with depth and relevance to the formation of the park. The Birch leaf is synonymous with Pooley, as Birch trees were one of the first species to recolonise the disturbed ground following the closure of the colliery.
To date works have included the creation of a new path up the former spoil heap and the dredging and opening up of the canal arm where coal was previously loaded onto barges. Work will also shortly begin on a new entrance to the park together with new signs and imaginative interpretation to bring the story of Pooley to life.
Park visitors and local residents can view the designs and follow progress with the project at Pooley Country Park and on the website, http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/parks.