Five sculptures commemorating the centenary of Northern Ireland have been approved for the borough of Ards and North Down.
Elected members of the Council’s Planning Committee unanimously approved sculptures this week, for Newtownards, Bangor, Holywood, Comber and Donaghadee. The applications were made by the council itself in each case, after a TUV motion was passed last June.
The proposed commemoration stones shall be 0.8m high, 0.7m wide and 0.5m long, and will have a map of Northern Ireland, with words forming a circle around it stating “Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Northern Ireland”.
The memorial stones will be constructed from sandstone buff with a smooth finish, with the top of the stone recessed in order to accommodate the NI100 paving stone (approx. 0.6m and 0.6m).
The sculptures will be located in the Square, Comber; beside the war memorial at Union Street, Donaghadee; at Conway Square, Newtownards; Redburn Square, Holywood, and in front of Bangor Town Hall.
There were no letters of support or objection received by the council, and no objections from any of the statutory consultees.
A council planning report states: “The sculptures will respect amenity and will have no detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the areas in which they are located.”
It adds: “The proposal is considered acceptable in that it shall have no detrimental impact upon the visual appearance of the surrounding area.
“Whilst it is acknowledged that art is subjective and part of its aim is to stimulate debate and provoke reaction, it is deemed that the design of the piece will contribute positively to the existing commemorations in the area with no detrimental impact upon neighbouring commercial and residential properties.”
