Town puts faith in own Angel of the North to shake off dismal image

IT HAS been labelled "Kabul of the north", drawn comparisons with Eastern Europe before the Wall came down and is reputed to be the most dismal place to stay in Scotland.

• Artist Andy Scott raises his hat to the completed statue in Cumbernauld. Picture: Steve Lindridge

But Cumbernauld embarked on what townspeople hope will be a fresh start yesterday when its newest landmark, a 33ft sculpture, was put in place.

The piece, overlooking the A80 north of Auchenkilns junction, is a steel structure of a female form incorporating two large swooping arcs. It was designed by artist Andy Scott.

Costing 250,000, it was commissioned by Campsies Centre Cumbernauld Ltd (CCCL), a company established by North Lanarkshire Council to lead the redevelopment of the town.

Inspired by the town's original name, "comar nan allt", which means "coming together of waters" in Gaelic, it is hoped the work will help Cumbernauld start ridding itself of its dismal image that has seen it win the Carbuncle Award for poor architecture.

Councillor Gerry McElroy, who chairs the CCCL, hopes the sculpture, called Arria will become iconic in the same way as the Angel of the North at Gateshead.

"We're anxious to create a new, distinctive image for Cumbernauld, to get away from the one tarnished by the Carbuncle Awards," he said. "So the statue is going to stand as a signpost to the town, it's going to be seen by 70,000 people every day, and that can only be good, because eventually people will come to associate the statue with Cumbernauld and it will give the population a new-found confidence.

"We're hoping that there will be spin-offs into inward investment in the town and people will come to realise that Cumbernauld is more than just the old town-centre building."

Mr McElroy said the landmark was proof that Cumbernauld had "moved on" and was looking to the future.

However, the siting of the sculpture outside Cumbernauld has caused controversy. Two members of the CCCL resigned over the decision not place it in the town centre.

But artist Scott insisted: "It is the optimum location as far as an artwork is concerned. There are already four artworks in the town centre and nobody knows they're there, so you would be fighting a losing battle competing with different decades of unfortunate architecture. This sculpture is meant to symbolise a new positive image."

Susanna Freedman, managing director of Edinburgh brand agency Tsuko, warned the sculpture would not be enough on its own to rejuvenate Cumbernauld's image.

"It's not an easy task," she said. "It's a starting point.

"What they have to do is challenge the perceptions people have of the town."

Cumbernauld's plus points:

1. It was the setting for Gregory's Girl.

2. It's within easy commuting distance of Glasgow but is just seven miles from the picturesque Campsie Fells.

3. House prices are lower than in much of the Central Belt.

4. The 40 million Antonine Shopping Centre opened in 2007.

5. It is a business hub, boasting the world headquarters of AG Barr and Yaskawa Electronics and the UK base of OKI.

6. It has its own airport.