High hopes for the HELIX
The race is on . . .
A team from the Big Lottery Fund is coming to town to assess the £25 million HELIX bid, a key project under the My Future's in Falkirk economic development initiative.
And if they are impressed with what they find – including the stunning models of the planned Kelpie boatlift – the Falkirk area will be well on its way to creating one of the world's most striking pieces of public art.
This week a specialist review team will spend two days in Falkirk (25/26 July) pouring over the dynamic plans which could create a unique environmental resource between Grangemouth and Falkirk.
Councillor Adrian Mahoney, Convener of the Environment and Heritage Committee said: 'The HELIX will create a major parkland and tourist attraction stretching across a wide section of the Falkirk area. These are highly ambitious proposals which have received strong support from a range of partners, including community representatives.
'We're confident a high quality bid has been delivered to the Big Lottery Fund and look forward to reaching the third stage round of the Living Landmarks Programme. The Falkirk area has great potential and I hope the Big Lottery Fund assessors recognise this during their visit this week.'
Driven forward by a partnership between Falkirk Council, British Waterways and Central Scotland Forest Trust, the HELIX will see the creation of 400 hectares of new greenspace, with 350,000 new trees, a new canal link with the 33 metre high Kelpie boatlift, an inspired public art programme and 11 km of paths and cycleways. The name HELIX is drawn from the distinctive shape of the site.
Richard Millar, Business Development Manager at British Waterways said: 'The HELIX is a truly inspirational project and this bid process provides an opportunity for Scotland that we simply cannot afford to miss. From the awe inspiring Kelpie boat lift and dynamic public art works to the engineering spectacle of the new canal link and natural beauty of the willow woodland, this tremendous community focused initiative will be a beacon for the future and a resource that will generate huge civic pride for generations to come.'
An imaginative programme of events has already allowed local people to meet and talk to the HELIX design team about the plans in a variety of easily accessible locations, including Falkirk's main shopping centre, Forth Valley College and The Falkirk Wheel.
This culminated with a special HELIX family event at Falkirk Stadium on the final day of the Scottish Premier League season where local children, football fans and players from Falkirk Football Club signed up to support the bid.
Simon Rennie, Chief Executive of Central Scotland Forest Trust added: 'No-one seeing the plans for this visionary concept, which has received unprecedented public support throughout Falkirk, can fail to be impressed. To create such a large scale project – which will link communities using green corridors, redevelop areas and involve communities in its planning, implementation and sustainability – is incredible.
It's what the Trust has been doing on a small scale for years, but the HELIX getting the thumbs up would be fantastic. This will be an exemplar project that others will want to learn from and imitate across Scotland and beyond.'
And last week the HELIX horses visited the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday 21 July.
The model of the two horses heads will return to the stadium on Thursday 26 July before returning to The Falkirk Wheel on Thursday evening.
- Falkirk Council (23/07/2007)
