Tweet
Peter Anson memorial to go ahead
By John Thomson
Published: 27/10/2010
SUPPORTERS of controversial plans to site a sculpture in honour of a maritime writer and artist near a north-east harbour are celebrating a planning victory.
Banffshire Maritime and Heritage Association fought a decision by Aberdeenshire councillors to reject its plan for the memorial to the late Peter Anson at Macduff.
Banff and Buchan councillors felt the contemporary steel piece would affect the appearance of the maritime-themed garden at Crook O’Ness Street.
The association lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government’s directorate of environmental and planning appeals.
A decision had not been expected until November, but the group has been informed that its appeal has been successful.
Appeal reporter Michael Cunliffe said: “The sculpture would fit with the maritime theme of the garden and the character of the surrounding area.”
He said an information board to explain the sculpture would be “unobtrusive” but he rejected association plans to site an anchor at the garden.
While this would fit with the maritime theme, he said, it would give a cluttered appearance to the western end of the area.
Heritage group secretary Stan Bruce said he felt the reporter had made the right decision as the group had followed guidelines for public art.
He said he had not expected Banff and Buchan councillors to approve the sculpture site, especially since the local community council had objected.
Mr Bruce said the council argument – that the garden was not intended to commemorate an individual – was flawed, since it already contained a fountain dedicated to a daughter of Victorian showman Walford Bodie.
Anchor
He said: “The approval excludes the anchor, which we will need to find a new home for, and we will now fabricate the information panel.
“We will erect the sculpture and information board in the spring and hold an official unveiling ceremony on a suitable date.”
Portsmouth-born Mr Anson, who died in 1975, lived at Macduff and in other parts of the northeast for spells during the 1930s and the 1950s.
The commemorative sculpture depicts a fishing boat and net.
By John Thomson
Published: 27/10/2010
SUPPORTERS of controversial plans to site a sculpture in honour of a maritime writer and artist near a north-east harbour are celebrating a planning victory.
Banffshire Maritime and Heritage Association fought a decision by Aberdeenshire councillors to reject its plan for the memorial to the late Peter Anson at Macduff.
Banff and Buchan councillors felt the contemporary steel piece would affect the appearance of the maritime-themed garden at Crook O’Ness Street.
The association lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government’s directorate of environmental and planning appeals.
A decision had not been expected until November, but the group has been informed that its appeal has been successful.
Appeal reporter Michael Cunliffe said: “The sculpture would fit with the maritime theme of the garden and the character of the surrounding area.”
He said an information board to explain the sculpture would be “unobtrusive” but he rejected association plans to site an anchor at the garden.
While this would fit with the maritime theme, he said, it would give a cluttered appearance to the western end of the area.
Heritage group secretary Stan Bruce said he felt the reporter had made the right decision as the group had followed guidelines for public art.
He said he had not expected Banff and Buchan councillors to approve the sculpture site, especially since the local community council had objected.
Mr Bruce said the council argument – that the garden was not intended to commemorate an individual – was flawed, since it already contained a fountain dedicated to a daughter of Victorian showman Walford Bodie.
Anchor
He said: “The approval excludes the anchor, which we will need to find a new home for, and we will now fabricate the information panel.
“We will erect the sculpture and information board in the spring and hold an official unveiling ceremony on a suitable date.”
Portsmouth-born Mr Anson, who died in 1975, lived at Macduff and in other parts of the northeast for spells during the 1930s and the 1950s.
The commemorative sculpture depicts a fishing boat and net.