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I CAN'T say I'm surprised the council has ditched its plans for Ormskirk's Aughton Street gateway.
However, I must say that for a scheme which was presented with such fanfare by the council, its demise (the roots of which were only to be found amid a batch of weighty council reports) and last gasp(witnessed by yours truly in Committee Rooms 2&3 at Derby Street on Tuesday night without any debate apart from a few words from planning boss Cllr Ian Grant) were a little disappointing...
Like many folk, I agree that the general area of Aughton Street needed a lift, I don't really think there was much point in the gateway concept.
I don't know about you, but when I'm visiting Ormskirk I tend to come in via the bus station or park in Stiles car park off Derby Street West. The only time I've ever entered town via Aughton Street was when I was at Somerfield or the Acropolis chippy and needed to get to Barclays.
It appears the enthusiasm for which those at West Lancs had for this scheme was not shared by the wider public.
Indeed, the council's own report admitted that the gateway concept had not been sold to enough people to make it worthwhile proceeding, and even if it did it would be basically a waste of time and effort.
I can think of many other authorities whose own vanity mean they would have gone ahead if put in West Lancs' position. Because, believe it or not, public bodies have a tendency to go on mad power trips at times and are scared stiff of being seen to have bowed to public pressure for fear of being branded weak.
However, sometimes strength is being able to put your hand up and say: "We got it wrong" and that's what happened here.
With that in mind, I think it's safe to assume it'll be a few years before we see West Lancs pursuing anymore public art ventures...
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