Sunday 7 December 2008

Barriers - to understanding ?

Not for the first time Blacka Blogger is at a loss for words in attempting a reaction to the latest SWT project so, will simply explain the context. More than a year ago they decided to fence off a much used route across Blacka Hill due to erosion. In conservation terms they claimed concern about the peat degrading. Notices were put up and barriers at each end of which this is one, although originally the uprights rose a foot or so above the horizontal bars and were a gross eyesore.

The barriers drew some uncomplimentary comments. After a month or two an SWT worker came along with a saw and reduced the height of the uprights which certainly lessened the clumsy visual impact in an attractive area. At a RAG meeting on site in June SWT remarked that they would address the visual intrusiveness of the barriers by replacing them with 'hurdles'.

Eventually one barrier was removed and a broad hurdle like structure appeared to replace it. This frankly defies description, but one should say that at each end there was a kind of extension, as if by afterthought, using two of the bars of the previous barrier. The pictures I hope tell something if not all of the story:







This tale is now approaching its climax: Several weeks later, on Friday, those who had thought nothing stranger could happen were to be surprised. At the other end of the route the original second barrier remained, but beyond it a new, even more striking artefact had materialised.


Blacka Blogger is now about to write to the Royal Institute of British Architects with a view to nominating SWT for an award in the category of "structures which enhance the landscape".

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