Mighty Spitfire monument gets mixed reaction (From Daily Echo)
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Mighty Spitfire monument gets mixed reaction
8:21am Monday 17th November 2008 in Royal Pier & Casino
TOWERING over Southampton’s waterfront skyline it will be a lasting tribute to the Spitfire.
Billed as the city’s rival to the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, it is set to take pride of place at the end of Town Quay to greet the thousands of cruise passengers who visit the city every year.
The British designer of the memorial has even gone so far as to say that it will be the city’s equivalent to New York’s Statue of Liberty.
But while Hampshire residents agree that the stainless steel structure will certainly be an impressive landmark, it seems that planners may have missed a vital selling point.
How can it rival the likes of these two other landmarks if you can’t actually climb up it to admire the view?
This was a point aired by several city residents including Southampton cleaner Shirley Broadbere.
The 63-year-old, of Brockley Close, Lordshill, said: “I think it’s a good idea because we need a memorial to the Spitfire. But I don’t think it’s going to rival the Spinnaker Tower as you can’t actually go up it.
“You can’t do anything but look at it. But I think it will look good when people coming into Southampton see it.”
Southampton pensioner Derek Giladjian echoed the same concern. The 81-year-old, of Warren Crescent, Shirley Warren, added: “I think as there were a lot of Spitfires made in South-ampton it is a good idea. It will look good as a landmark but you won’t be able to go up it, which is a major drawback.
“I think the Spinnaker Tower is fantastic as you can admire the views and have a coffee there. There’s not much to see in Southampton once the cruise liners are at sea though. But it would improve the view when you come into the docks.”
As revealed, the enormous tribute following a Daily Echo campaign, will tower 180ft over the waterfront skyline with a wingspan of 110ft – three times the size of the legendary fighter plane.
Associated British Ports (ABP), which owns Town Quay, has backed the ambitious £1.5m plans drawn up by the Spitfire Tribute Foundation.
Comments(24)
hulla baloo
says...
8:40am Mon 17 Nov 08
What planet is he on?
Cannot even compare it with Bitterne triangle, let alone the statue of liberty.
"But I think it will look good when people coming into Southampton see it.”
Better change that to " it will look good for the cruise passengers"
Because,unless I am much mistaken, that is the only route into Southampton that will see it.
Ian24
says...
8:49am Mon 17 Nov 08
I am unsure who is paying for this, my main concern is that the council will be doing something like giving the developer who owns the land a large kickback for doing this or some land for free or cheap. I understand everything costs but it should be for the tax payer to understand where his ir her cash is going and how much is going.
Steve Hancock
says...
9:38am Mon 17 Nov 08
Rather than Town Quay, would it not be more approapriate for the monument to be in Woolston on or near the original Supermarine factory site? There it could be seen by far more people - from the water, from the Itchen Bridge and in Woolston itself, home of the Southampton Spitfire.
thesaint
says...
9:53am Mon 17 Nov 08
if wewant a wow factor get some real artists with imagination involved
TestTickle
says...
9:57am Mon 17 Nov 08
thesaint
says...
10:18am Mon 17 Nov 08
TestTickle wrote:yes but the angel of the north is a original piece of artwork not the rubbish we have 3 poles with a spitfire on top. we got one on eastleigh roundabout.
We're missing the point here. This is a statue not a building. Generally you can't climb statues - the Angel Of The North being one that springs to mind and the Statue of Liberty (as is mentioned by the designer) is another. My feeling is it would look spectacular and you can't admire it when you're on it.
Andy Locks Heath
says...
10:40am Mon 17 Nov 08
goard
says...
10:47am Mon 17 Nov 08
goard
dsm
says...
11:03am Mon 17 Nov 08
thesaint wrote:Err, you can climb the Statue of Liberty. I have done.
its a pile of junk and how can they compare this micy mouse idea with the statue of liberty is amazing,it should be sied on a roundabout or the original Supermarine factory site
if wewant a wow factor get some real artists with imagination involved
Mind you, I don't fancy climbing the Angel of The North.
Jerry Parsons
says...
12:05pm Mon 17 Nov 08
The Spitfire had a much more perpendicular leading wing edge.
This looks as though the sculptor started to get mixed up with the Hurricane.
King Mush
says...
12:38pm Mon 17 Nov 08
LOL
I bet the same numpty thinks that Ant & Dec are the new Morecambe & Wise
Miles Sway
says...
1:33pm Mon 17 Nov 08
Sadly, I think this proposed "3x real size" one will just look complete 5hit, and something for Sotonians to embarrassed rather than proud of.
gorf
says...
1:47pm Mon 17 Nov 08
haha
what a joke - is that our pier?
why not renovate the royal pier and plonk it at the end of that?
mr_lee_white@hotmail.com
says...
2:37pm Mon 17 Nov 08
Maybe whilst ABP are backing the idea, perhaps they could also back the idea of tidying up that wreckage that used to be the pier and get rid of those "temporary" porka-kabins which Red Funnel use at the other end of Town Quay- they're an eye sore!
goard
says...
2:52pm Mon 17 Nov 08
goard
seatonsaint
says...
3:39pm Mon 17 Nov 08
Boris Remmington
says...
4:16pm Mon 17 Nov 08
Bright Spark
says...
4:24pm Mon 17 Nov 08
Rob444
says...
7:53pm Mon 17 Nov 08
Obviously, it is for the benefit of cruise liner passengers, not the general populace. Thanks a lot, council leaders.
fatfish
says...
9:08pm Mon 17 Nov 08
Rob444 wrote:I think that it should be in the middle of Mayflower Park. It would be an excellent welcome to the city for cruise passengers. Many Southampton people go to Mayflower Park anyway. Putting it in another park would result in graffitti being plastered all over it.
IF the spitfire monument was for the people of Southampton, then a suitable location would be in one of the main city parks where we could see it. Obviously, it is for the benefit of cruise liner passengers, not the general populace. Thanks a lot, council leaders.
King Mush
says...
10:02pm Mon 17 Nov 08
Bright Spark wrote:Or.......
How long before someone decides to stick the QE2's funnel next to it? Classy ... not!
How about having a scale model replica Spitfire strafing the Titanic with machine gun fire?
Double whammy Sotonia?
Eastleighite
says...
6:46am Tue 18 Nov 08
Andy Locks Heath
says...
10:55am Tue 18 Nov 08
King Mush wrote:Great idea - and instead of the Titanic hitting an iceberg it could plough into a gigantic statue of Benny Hill
Bright Spark wrote:Or.......
How long before someone decides to stick the QE2's funnel next to it? Classy ... not!
How about having a scale model replica Spitfire strafing the Titanic with machine gun fire?
Double whammy Sotonia?
Somer88
says...
5:01pm Fri 5 Dec 08
A straight pole does not do justice to the spirit of the Spitfire. A curved pole, perhaps imitating a contrail, would be better.
Siting the memorial at the old Supermarine Woolston works site would be better and if imposing enough would still be seen by the cruise liners.
The proposed location gives an underneath view to cruise liners and top view for town visitors - perhaps more than one rendition so that both town and cruise passengers can see a top view and the silhouette which is so evocative.
The present design is too imperfect, however, it is often necessary to start somewhere to evoke comment and progress - the present design needs improvement but is a starting point.
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