White palm tree distance markers placed along prom
WORK TO INSTALL FURNITURE BEGINS
MARKERS have been installed along Cleethorpes promenade ahead of the installation of the controversial 72ft white palm.
The paving slabs feature distance measurements every 100 metres along the seafront and carry an illustration representing the upcoming art installation.
North East Lincolnshire Council said the markers were being introduced on the prom “to encourage its use for fitness, running or walking events”.
Planning permission for the palm tree, designed by Wolfgang Weileder, was granted earlier this year though it has not yet been revealed exactly when it will be installed. A new
“lumination” display is also being developed with work “progressing” on the project. Meanwhile, work to install tall wooden chairs that overlook the sea, press up benches for people to sit on and exercise “loungers” along the North Prom has begun. Fences are in place around sections of the area, near to a marking highlighting where the palm tree will stand.
The new furniture is being introduced as part of the wider cultural and arts project, which has been funded with a grant from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund, (CCF) secured by CoastNEL and supported by North East Lincolnshire Council. It also includes the Prom’s new “walking art gallery”. The 21 individual wooden pieces have been designed by award-winning specialists Freshwest to encourage people to take part in a range of activities along the prom – from exercise, to sitting for a chat, or for those who simply want to take in their surroundings. The timber and stainless-steel construction is durable with the high-quality finish taking account of the seafront setting.
Last month, Simon Macro, Freshwest co-founder, explained how his visits to the resort and chats with various people there had coloured the work that had been done. “We were challenged to create something robust that was unusual and engaging. The furniture is designed as a family of objects, each with their own character and personality. We also set about designing the pieces with exercise in mind. d. That was part of the brief ief and we really wanted to embrace it,” he said.
“When we visited ed Cleethorpes, we noticed ed how people were using the he promenade to exercise but ut what also struck us was the he beautiful vista and we e wanted to make the most of that view. “These are not designed d like the equipment you see in parks though, which are purely for exercise, they are very much multi-use – we want to encourage visitors to both exercise, play and relax along the prom.”
The project is being managed by Engie, the regeneration partner of North East Lincolnshire Council whose deputy leader and head of r regeneration Councillor John F Fenty said: “We are sure that ev everyone will be really p pleased with the finished re result, which will provide a re real talking point and another re reason for people to visit the No North Prom. Wouldn’t it be gr great to see a whole host of ev events taking place along th there?
““This is yet another example of the significant investment that is being put into Cleethorpes, as we continue to develop it as the leading east coast resort,” he added.