LIGHT FANTASTIC

Sir Goldsworthy Gurney (1793 – 1875), who was, perhaps, the most prolific inventor Cornwall has produced, built his revolutionary house in Bude, which is now The Castle, on a raft of concrete on sand. As a great innovator he experimented widely. One of his inventions was the ‘Bude Light’ which lit the House of Commons for 60 years.

As a statement of cultural value there could not be a more fitting way to celebrate the new millennium in Bude than the innovative 30 feet beacon of light which is being designed by Carole Vincent in collaboration with Anthony Fanshawe. Constructed in concrete with the intrinsic colours of sand, sea and sky it will ‘come alive’ at night using the latest fibre optic techniques to reflect the constellations at the time of the millennium. It will be set in a circular paved area with seating around the circumference. The space will be multi-functional and can be a venue for community groups to use.

The area between the historic castle grounds and the commercial centre of town will be upgraded and the whole are will be enhanced by encouraging a natural landscape to include trees, bushes and shrubs and well designed vehicle routes.

The Light is part of the overall millennium scheme under the programme management of Bude Architects Neil Tibbitts from the Jonathan Ball Practice and Richard Wellby of Metters & Wellby. Melanie Hinde of Nicholas Pearson Associates will be responsible for the overall landscape design. The steering group of architects, landscape architects and artists together with the sub-committee of the Bude Stratton Town Council led by Philip Sanderson, will work as a team.

The initial feasibility study was carried out in April 1997 by Bude and Stratton Town Council in association with the Bude Action Team with European Funding Support provided by the North Tamar Business Network.

Two of the major grant applications for the Bude Light Project have come up trumps – resulting in the part allocation of £173,625.

It is now full steam ahead for the project, after the Arts Lottery Board confirmed its contribution of £97,000 – the largest capital sum in this round in the South West, and the European Regional Development Fund agreed a grant £76,625.

News from each body came within days of each other, and have caused much excitement amongst the project team.

Bude-Stratton Town Council which is instigating the project, has already dedicated £65,000 and the District Council £10,000. It is hoped other grants will be confirmed as a result of the news from Europe, in order to make up the anticipated total of at least £3000,000.

Sue Richardson, head of North Cornwall Arts will look forward to directing and co-ordinating programmes of artistic-led projects with local schools and community groups to create a spectacular performance in the early Summer of 2000.