Gulliver's on his travels

Published on Saturday 25 July 2009 11:07

HE has spent the last 30 years slumbering in a field in Craigmillar while local children clamber all over him.

The travails of Gulliver the Gentle Giant are about to come to an end however, after it was agreed to demolish the landmark concrete sculpture as part of plans to regenerate the Niddrie Burn.

The 100ft-long statue, designed in Barlinnie prison by murderer-turned-author Jimmy Boyle, was erected at the back of the Jack Kane Centre, and unveiled by Billy Connolly in 1976.

But now a multi-million plan which will see a new water course created as part of flood prevention and regeneration work in the area means the statue will have to be destroyed.

It had been hoped that the statue could be preserved or even moved, with local residents saying it was an "integral part of Craigmillar that should be treasured".

A survey of the structure however has revealed that the concrete and steel giant is in such a state of disrepair that any attempts to relocate it would be futile.

And, with plans for the waterway recommended for approval, designs for a new piece of public art are to be drawn up in consultation with the local community.

Alternative routes around the sculpture were investigated, but it was decided that the loss of Gulliver was preferable to the loss of local sports pitches, given the decaying state of the artwork.

Local councillor Mike Bridgeman said he had played on the statue when he was a child but that it was now in such a state that it had to be removed.

"I can remember running all over it when I was growing up there, and it was great fun, but I have been told it is in a very bad state of repair at the moment," he said.

"It was built of concrete and steel frames, and has been there for more than 30 years, so it has probably had its day.

"It is a shame though, and I hope when they are drawing up plans for a piece of art to replace it they take the time to speak to the local community, and work with them to create something that people want to see."

The proposed work on the burn will involve realigning a 1,800 metre stretch to create a natural river corridor to provide better protection from severe flooding.

The proposals also include the creation of new meadows, wetland, grassland, an otter refuge, and three pedestrian bridges.

Cycle ways, seating and sections of boardwalk will also be created, while a new sports pitch and improvements to local sports facilities at the Jack Kane Centre are also included, to compensate for the loss of two playing fields.

John Bury, the council's head of planning, said: "The development of a new river course will necessitate the loss of the Gulliver sculpture. Any solution involving the relocation of the sculpture is likely to destroy the sculpture.

" Although the loss of the sculpture is significant, the proposals for a new river corridor provide new art work."

Plans for the proposed Niddrie Burn restoration project are expected to be approved when they are put before the council on Wednesday.