Sculpture celebrates Cumbernauld – but artist wants it to stand next to A80

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 21:59

A RENOWNED artist has been commissioned to create a £250,000 sculpture to brighten up a major travel route.

Andy Scott, the man behind the four-metre Heavy Horse beside the M8, will produce a new design for a sculpture to overlook the A80 by Cumbernauld.

However, the project has come under fire over claims the site of the sculpture has been moved because the artist felt the town centre – considered a symbol of bad 1960s architecture – was not a suitable setting.

The ten-metre sculpture will display a female form with two swooping arcs, inspired by the original Gaelic name for Cumbernauld, cumer nan alt, meaning "the meeting of the waters".

The proposed landmark is the idea of the Cumbernauld Positive Image Project, set up by Campsies Centre Cumbernauld Ltd (CCCL), to promote the redevelopment of the town.

Glasgow-based Mr Scott said: "Cumbernauld has always had its detractors and, much like Dundee 20 years ago, it is fashionable to decry the town.

"Things have changed for the better over the past few years and I hope the sculpture will represent the aspiration of Cumbernauld as intended by the original planners and architects."

CCCL chairman Gerry McElroy said: "The aim of this project is to go some way to changing this perception and we are very excited about working with Andy to create an iconic artwork for Cumbernauld – a further step in the rebirth of this town."

However, local SNP councillor Alan O'Brien and his colleague William Homer, both former members of the CCCL, claimed the site of the new sculpture was an insult to the people of Cumbernauld.

"We found it pretty insulting that somebody could just come in and decide that our town centre wasn't good enough for his sculpture," said Mr O'Brien. "The people who are paid to regenerate the town centre, the other councillors, actually agreed with him."

The two councillors resigned in protest at the decision by the remaining four committee members to go ahead with the plan.

Responding, Mr McElroy said: "We regret that councillors O'Brien and Homer resigned from the board of CCCL earlier this year.

"There were never any plans to site this structure in the town centre of Cumbernauld. This site – which looks down on the main road connecting Cumbernauld to the rest of Scotland – was chosen because it will give the maximum number of people in the town and across the country the ability to see this iconic structure."

Mr Scott has produced more than 60 public art commissions in Scotland and abroad.

His latest work is due to be completed by summer 2010.