Councillors have expressed concern that plans to erect a sculptural montage of ancient buildings of Rome on a Ripon bypass roundabout could cause traffic accidents.
The five-metre high cast resin sculpture, with information plaque and lighting, is planned to celebrate Ripon Cathedral’s 1,350th anniversary.
But there are concerns it may distract motorists and cause accidents.
The cathedral plans to commission five major art works over a four-year period.
The proposed location for a boat sculpture depicting St Wilfrid’s sea travels.
Three of the works require approval from Harrogate Borough Council and a planning application has been submitted.
Under the theme of From Rome to Ripon, they will tell the story of the city’s patron saint and cathedral founder St Wilfrid.
The concept is supported by Ripon City Council, but at a meeting on Monday evening, they agreed to seek a meeting with the cathedral’s project team to discuss concerns.
City council leader Andrew Williams said:
“In principal, I fully support the artwork proposal, but I feel that we need to look again at the sculpture proposed for the roundabout.
“The bypass is a very busy road and I am concerned that the artwork with lights on could be a distraction to road users and lead to accidents.
“I also question how sensible it would be to have an information plaque on the sculpture – we wouldn’t want pedestrians to walk on to the roundabout to read it.
“Surely there must be a better location than this for the artwork.”
Fellow councillors agreed there was a need for further discussion with the applicant.
The council will write to Harrogate planners calling for the application to be deferred until this aspect of the plan is resolved.
The other two sculptures requiring planning permission are, firstly, of a boat containing figures that represent St Wilfrid on his sea travels. He made several visits to and from Rome during his time in Ripon.
This would be the first of the installations in June of next year.
The second installation, cast in bronze and standing five metres high, would depict St Wilfrid and a follower, which is planned for the corner of the Market Square that looks down onto Kirkgate.
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It is proposed that this will be in place by June 2024.
The artwork currently earmarked for the Ripon bypass roundabout would initially be installed from June 2025 in the narthex at the the western end of the cathedral, before being relocated.
