PLANS for a ‘landmark’ sculpture and other artistic additions in Picket Twenty have been submitted for consideration.

The application, put forward by Test Valley Borough Council’s own arts officer, Faye Perkins, is primarily for a 9.7 metre ‘torch’ sculpture inspired by the Olympic tradition.

The proposal is for a “landmark sculpture” for the Urban Park at Picket Twenty, located on the central green mound near the Picket Twenty Sports Ground building, sport pitches, car parks and access roads.

The sculpture is intended to represent a symbol of hope that guides people to the Urban Park. It is based upon the Olympic torch, which was derived from ancient Greece. In Ancient Greek mythology, the ever-burning torch had divine connotations – it was thought to have been stolen from the gods by Prometheus.

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Every four years, when Zeus was honoured at the Olympic Games, additional torches were lit at his temple and that of his wife, Hera. The modern Olympic torch is still ignited in front of the ruins of the temple of Hera. During the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, it was carried through the Picket Twenty Urban Park.

The main structure would be made from mild steel and aluminium with protective powder coat and marine-grade stainless steel. Then an array of different size rings would be set in the structure of the sculpture with circular plates that would spin in the breeze.

The lower section of the sculpture is a 3 metre tall 580mm diameter plinth column with laser cut symbols representing sports activities. Other relevant local themes could be interwoven into the main sports theme on the column. Around the column would be a 3500mm semi-circular steel bench in two sections.

The applicant says that the artist would work with the community and schools in the area to explore and develop appropriate imagery for the column and benches.

In planning documents, the TVBC planning team raised no objection with the size of the sculpture, but added that “they will need more detailed information in the full planning application about the lux value of the light and the light spill with regards to the residents who will look up to it and surround the immediate area.”

The lighting assessment included in the plans suggests the sculpture would have a high-power tilted interior LED uplight, stating that one of the advantages of this technology is that it has a range of beam angles available.

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In addition, the authority is looking to install a series of ‘hoop’ sculptures in the Picket Twenty play area.The colourful hoop arches would range in height up to 2.8 metres and be installed in the green spaces, in particular Picket Twenty Play Park and Turnpike Road Play Park. They are said to represent the fun of children’s games, as well as sports where hoops are used for physical fitness and rhythmic gymnastics.

To view the plans in detail, visit: view-applications.testvalley.gov.uk/online-applications and use reference 22/01439/FULLN.

It comes after controversial plans were submitted in April for a dormouse sculpture at Picket Piece, which was described by one town councillor as “a complete waste of money”.