Artist wants local people to help design new traffic-free bridge
Residents in Weymouth and Portland are being asked to get creative and come up with their design ideas for a new bridge in the Westham area. The bridge will form a key part of a new route for pedestrians and cyclists from Weymouth to Portland funded by sustainability charity, Sustrans and Dorset County Council. The route will use the local railway path and connect through the town centre to the esplanade thus providing a valuable link for everyday travel within the area.
Brighton-based artist Bruce Williams will be holding an open studio for the Newstead Road bridge design at Beechcroft St Pauls Primary School in Westham during the first week in February. The open studio will be open 1pm - 2.30pm and 3.15pm - 6pm from Monday 1 February to Friday 5 February. Since September 2009, Bruce has been working with a student group of 17 pupils from All Saints CE School and 15 pupils from Holy Trinity CE VC Primary School to develop conceptual ideas for the bridge. Pupils have been exploring basic engineering principals and looking at innovative bridge design from around the world to come up with their own creative responses. Weymouth College art students are also working on their own designs for the bridge which Bruce has been reviewing with them.
Sustrans is funding this route as part of their UK-wide 'Connect2' schemes to create networks for everyday journeys for people travelling by foot or by bike. These schemes - including the one through Weymouth - are being created using a £50 million Big Lottery Fund grant after the UK public voted the scheme the winner of The People's Millions Lottery contest in December 2007.
Kevin Humphreys, Sustrans Area Manager for Dorset, said, "We are thrilled that the bridge design plans will have so much input from the local community. Bruce is really looking for what will work for Weymouth . This scheme will make it easier for people in this area to get around without having to rely on their car which is not only better for their health but the environment too."
Artist, Bruce Williams said: "I am amazed by how positive, thoughtful and hardworking these young people have been. Almost without exception, everyone I am working with loves Weymouth . Their research has kept me busy with every new layer of history they reveal and their ideas for the bridge are bursting with optimism for the future. Now I want to meet some other people from the town. To hear stories about life in Weymouth, about the old bridge and the Rodwell trail, to see ideas, old photos and memories, to talk about the Olympics, about the wider future for Weymouth or simply to chat about how the new bridge will effect the town."
Cabinet member for Transport Col Geoffrey Brierley said: "The Newstead Road bridge will be a prominent structure in the heart of a lively community. Bruce's work with local students and residents will mean that the bridge will be more than just a stretch of metal, and that it will have significance to the people who will see it and use it everyday."
Work produced by All Saints, Holy Trinity and Beechcroft pupils and designs by Weymouth College students will be on display during the open studio. Bruce's work is being funded by Arts Council England South West, Weymouth and Portland Partnership, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and Dorset County Council.
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