Hello! We're at the RENEW Rooms in the centre of Liverpool for the second open forum on the Mersey Observatory designs. I'm aiming to log comments from those who come along to meet the steering group.
First up is Paul Taylor, vice-chair of Merseyside Residents Network, who lives in Chapel House, the high rise building that overlooks the project site.
Paul says....
"Our concern is that there should be more community involvement in the project, both for residents and local businesses - both for the choosing of the design, and once the new Observatory is built - for example, we'd like some input into how visitors will be managed, noise control and so on."
Next to comment is Arthur Bowling, from Waterloo (Cambridge Rd), member of Crosby Coastal Country Park and Sefton 08 volunteers.....
"People shouldn't think of it as an isolated or totally new thing in the area. There are 17 observatories around the country, often by the RSPB. I've worked on several, in Cape Clear Island, Ireland, and Ardnamurchan Point, SW Scotland and Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel. They're mainly bird observatories, but they're also used for climate change activities etc. The main problem with them is that they tend to be on 'extreme' access points. But ours will be very well connected. I've recently been to Hull to see The Deep, an aquatic centre and underwater observatory, but that's expensive to travel to from Hull. I'd like to see a free transport link from Waterloo Interchange, maybe a tuk-tuk or rickshaw. I worry about the project becoming elistist or too expensive for local people. It has to be part of an overall plan, so I'd like to see better access to the nature reserve next door and Potter's Barn Park (the monument to the battle of Waterloo). That should help to raise the status of the other local attractions. Maybe it could even form Mersey Observatory and Country Park, and also encompass the cycle and walking paths and access to the Leeds Liverpool Canal, so you've got a choice of attractions. I've spoken to two of the judges, and they were aware of other observatories. It would be useful to have a public event to hear from representatives from them to learn from their experiences, so that the planners here can make sure that our Observatory fits in to its community. For example, the planned Observatory for Malin Head, Ireland has a plan for a community drop-in centre - this observatory should be openly accessible for locals, and part of us."
Martin Shutt from 2020 Liverpool says...
"There's not much evidence of renewable energy sources being used. Has the potential of tidal / coastal energy been explored?"
Jenny Andrew and Chris Wilson are two oceanographers who live in Waterloo, close to the site. They're big fans of the entry from Buro Happold. Chris says he really likes the use of hydroelectric power here, especially because you can see the wind turbines and the beach around the Observatory, and the way the building is powered will be able to be easily related to what's nearby. He thinks the garden space is also very apt for a site near a nature reserve. The whole thing would really involve visitors in their environment, both near and far.
Here's a comment from one of the cards I've been handed - we don't know the writer, sadly......
"After exploring the excellent design proposals, I believe a horizontal approach would be more successful in this particular location. The proposals exploring a predominantly vertical approach are weakened by their poor relationship to the horizontal approach to the pinnacle experience position, and not fully engaging with the site and its surroundings. I believe the Ellis Williams design is an integral experience and entity and is very characteristic of the site."
Here's someone else who wishes to remain anonymous, on purpose this time! They say...
"Phos is the best. It offers good amenities throughout the year, in any weather - has lots of surprise and subtlety. It complements the park and existing icons well - the money would be spent in the right places.
The pier is daft - all the money goes into structural gymnastics, and it wouldn't work in poor weather. The entry from Studio 8 would be a waste of resources - all the energy and money in a sculpture, and no facilities at the upper level. It will not work except as a sculpture. [The Observatory] should not compete with the existing landscape, which is already great.
The windmills are already the icons of the site, along with Another Place.
I think the Farrell and Clark entry is more structure than facility. It would create wind problems too.
All the schemes have overlooked the importance of approach and new gateways to the park from South Road and Cambridge Road."
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