THING OF THE WEEK
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT… Looking at sites across the globe, lender Together Money has listed eight abandoned spaces which, if developed for residential use, could bring in particularly high values. The derelict Camelot Theme Park in Chorley, closed since 2012, comes particularly high on the list, with its 140 acres potentially yielding £800m if used to build 6,200 homes. Seven years on, the abandoned rollercoasters still remain at Camelot, as well the park’s jousting arena, which when opened was the largest in the UK. Several planning applications for housing have been submitted and rejected by Chorley Council, the most recently from Story Homes in March 2018. Despite the potential, it seems that urban explorers can breathe easy that their hunting ground remains safe for another few years at least.
RETURN OF THE PLAQUE… In terms of difficult things to steal, a cast iron plaque that weighs over a tonne is quite high on the list. The Manchester & Birmingham Railway plaque was erected at Manchester Piccadilly station in the mid 1960s and removed in 1998 during station upgrades, and had not been seen since. However, an ex-train driver never gave up hope and spotted it for sale on eBay in August for £3,700, with a recommendation to “move it with a forklift”. Successfully recovered, plans are afoot for it to be returned to its home.
NIGHT LIGHT…. It’s officially the season of night-time extravaganza with the dates revealed for Liverpool’s light festival which will run from 1 November to 9 November. The waterfront will be transformed into the ultimate selfie spot and there will be 10 art commissions from international light artists across the city. This will be joined by the annual River of Light fireworks on Sunday 3 November down by the Mersey. For more information head here.
CGI showing developer FEC’s Mount Yard to the left and the Gate & Stile buildings to the right with Angel Meadow in the middle
PLASTIC FANTASTIC… Art can come in all shapes and sizes, including an angel made out of plastic bottles. The £200m Meadowside resi development, located in Angel Meadow near to Victoria Station, has partnered with artist Lazerian to build the statue out of 25,000 plastic bottles, due to complete just in time for the holiday season. Lazerian has put out the call on Twitter asking residents of Manchester to donate their bottles to the good cause. THING thinks recycled art should be a regular feature around the North West, as long as it doesn’t encourage people to actually use more plastic.
It’s National Recycling Week ♻️ and YOU can get involved! We are collecting used plastic bottles!
So before you throw that bottle away give it to us! For more info read the blog or feel free to message us!#recycle #BigGreenSpaces #LivetheMeadowLife https://t.co/s6qWp0et4r pic.twitter.com/PUuxFbjfe6
— MeadowSide (@MeadowSide_mcr) September 25, 2019
