Plans to cover bridge in 70,000 lights ‘must not disturb wildlife’

TURNING THE Humber Bridge into the world’s largest digital artwork could fall foul of conservationists.

The bid to light up the side facing east with 70,000 LED lights is among 11 vying for a share of a £15m fund to create a legacy from next year’s Great Exhibition of the North. Chief executive of Hull 2017 Martin Green said it would create a “totally unique canvas for artists” and was “a brilliant way to engage young people through technology and art”.

However, the estuary’s wildlife is protected under national and international law and it will have to be shown that the lighting scheme won’t disturb thousands of overwintering and migratory birds. The RSPB’s Chris Collett said: “The Humber Estuary is an internationally important site for wintering and migratory water birds and is protected under European and UK law. Consequently, any proposal for a large-scale light installation on the Humber Bridge would need to provide clear evidence that it would not have an adverse impact on the protected wildlife.”

Humber Bridge board member Coun Sean Chaytor said it had been suggested that the lights could be switched off during migrating periods. The bridge, recently awarded Grade I-listed status, was the centrepiece earlier this year for Opera North’s atmospheric sound journey Height of the Reeds.

The news comes as four projects from Yorkshire are among 11 bids vying for a share of a fund to create a legacy from The Great Exhibition of the North 2018. Leeds City Region, the Humber, Sheffield City Region, and York and North Yorkshire and East Riding have submitted bids to the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund.