IT'S the biggest Lottery grant for public art to be made. And we cannot see the point of it.

The Irwell Sculpture Trail Partnership, which includes Bury Council, are going to create "an environmental trail of 50 art works" over the next five years along 30 miles of the Irwell Valley Way.

Translating from council-speak, we understand that to mean sculptures will be dotted along walkways where people would prefer to find flora and fauna in natural settings rather than pretentious art works, which nobody but the artists fully understand. Rather than being squandered on the designs, we think the money would be better spent on providing recreation areas where walkers can rest in comfort and perhaps enjoy refreshments in a pleasant atmosphere.

We welcome wholeheartedly the regeneration of the Irwell Valley, but we don't believe it needs 50 "works of art" to make it a tourist attraction.

Far from attracting visitors, we believe that erecting sculptures could detract from the natural beauty of the walks and deter people who prefer to talk to the trees rather than lumps of stone.

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