Wb Art Spine 1909

A HERITAGE consultant has been commissioned to assess the heritage impact of a proposed “Art Spine” public art trail in Watlington.

The decision by the parish council will cost about £2,500 and follows a second recommendation for rejection issued by the heritage officer for South Oxfordshire District Council.

They said there was “insufficient” heritage information submitted as part of the proposal.

Plans to install five sculptures of human heads inspired by the history, community and environment of Watlington were submitted by the parish council in June.

Designed to celebrate the town and help unite it with new housing developments at Red Kite View and Hampden Fields, the project is funded by grants from developers.

The parish council responded to concerns in August to say it didn’t think a heritage impact statement was necessary, given the district council’s involvement in planning the project.

But heritage officer Emily Tucker doubled down on concerns earlier this month and once again recommended the project for refusal.

Parish councillor Steve Bolingbroke said: “The consultant is costing us quite a lot of money.

“It’s the district council which insists on housing developers putting money into art in the town but, every time I try and move the project forward, they seem to put another obstacle in the way.

“We’ve had to push really hard to get this to happen.”

Cllr Bolingbroke added that while he understands the concerns raised around one proposed location for a sculpture at St Leonard’s Church, objections raised to the town hall location are “more of an issue”.

He said that it was important that the trail connects the new developments to the historic town centre and not being able to use the location would “defeat the point”.

The heritage impact assessment is expected to be finished later this year.

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