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Southport Reporter® covering the news on Merseyside.

Date:- 10 March 2007

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PROTECTING VULNERABLE SEFTON COASTLINE MUST BE TOP PRIORITY

NATURAL England hopes to agree a mutual solution that would help keep Anthony Gormley's 'Iron Men' statues on Sefton coast whilst safeguarding the internationally recognised nature conservation interests of the site. A decision on the statues' retention is due to be made by Sefton Borough Council.

The coastline stretching from the Dee estuary to the Ribble estuary is internationally recognised by several statutory designations designed to protect the region's wildlife, including a European Special Protected Area (SPA), a RAMSAR designation as a wetland of international importance, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. (SSSI).

"Retaining Anthony Gormley's iron men statues in their current positions on a permanent basis risks having a significant impact on the fragile beaches of the Sefton Coast and on the bird populations using them" says Richard Leafe, North West regional director of Natural England, the government's environmental adviser.  "We would like to see the statues retained but moved away from the most vulnerable bird feeding areas. We have been working towards this win win win solution with the applicant and planners from Sefton Borough Council to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits at the same time.  We are opposed to retaining the statues positioned within sensitive bird feeding areas on the lower shore. Visitors bring significant disturbance to the estuary bird population and this adversely impacts on their feeding and migrating patterns. At particular risk are the bar-tailed godwit and the sanderling populations."

Natural England is responsible for maintaining the habitats and geological features of designated sites in as natural state as possible. It is tasked by government with ensuring that the country's coastline and estuaries are able to support rich habitats and wildlife for future generations.

The coastline is a mix of sandy beaches, tidal flats and a mobile dune system. Internationally important populations of water birds including 28 key conservation species- sanderling, bar-tailed godwit and ringed plover, for example - use the area.

Richard adds; "While encouraging public access along the length of the coastline is of increasing importance, it is essential that we ensure the right balance between public access and the protection of sensitive habitats and species populations. That's why we believe that the fragile inter-tidal area used by important wildfowl and wader populations at Sefton coast must be protected."

Mersey Waterfront will help keep Gormley statues on Crosby Beach

MERSEY Waterfront on Thursday 8 March, revealed it is contributing just over £500,000 to help Sefton Council buy Antony Gormley’s 100 iconic Iron Men from the artist.

Mersey Waterfront, supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has confirmed the news following last night’s decision by Sefton Council to extend planning permission for the Another Place installation.  £1million of the £1.5million needed to purchase Another Place has already been secured from the Northern Way, John Prescott's initiative to close the economic gap between the North and South of the country. Another Place Ltd is now spearheading the campaign to raise a final £0.5million to maintain and manage the statues.

Director of Mersey Waterfront, Louise Goodman, said;- “Another Place is a valuable addition to our surprisingly diverse 135km coastline. Antony Gormley’s sculptures are genuinely visionary and have done a great deal to showcase our coastline both nationally and internationally in a relatively short time. That’s why, in the run-up to Capital of Culture Year, we’re proud to be playing a part in keeping the sculptures here in Merseyside.”

Peter Mearns, NWDA Director of Marketing and Communications, said:- “The role of public art is widely acknowledged as an important economic driver as well as a catalyst for further regeneration. This iconic project has already made a valuable contribution to the visitor economy in Crosby attracting attention from all over the world. I am confident that this spectacular feature will form an important part of Liverpool’s tourism offer and support the city’s cultural programme in 2008.”

The 100 cast iron figures each weigh 650kilos and are casts of the artist’s own body. They are partly submerged at different times of day depending on changing tides and weather conditions. Another Place has previously been displayed in Germany, Norway and Belgium.

Details of the tide times at Crosby are available on www.merseywaterfront.com.

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