davieG Posted 28 June 2008 Posted 28 June 2008 Any preference or are you not bothered? Original location Options WE GET OUR LIBERTY BACK BY JENNY CORNISH CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER 10:30 - 27 June 2008 A famous city landmark which has been hidden away for five years could soon be revealed to the public again. The Liberty Statue stood for more than 80 years on the roof of the former Liberty Shoe Factory, on the corner of Eastern Boulevard and Walnut Street, St Andrews, near Leicester Royal Infirmary. The monument, based on the Statue of Liberty in New York, was removed from the building in April 2002, in preparation for it to be demolished to make way for student flats - and the Leicester Mercury later found it abandoned in a car park. A variety of options were considered for the statue, including putting it in the foyer of the new building, but without success. Now, the city council has drawn up plans to put the statue close to its original home. Residents are being asked to comment on proposals. Options include putting the statue on either a 2.5-metre or 4.5-metre plinth in the centre of the Swan Gyratory roundabout, opposite the new building, Liberty Park. An alternative is to make a replica of the statue in a lightweight material and put it on Liberty Park's roof. The original concrete statue - which is 17ft tall and weighs nine tonnes - would be too heavy to go on the building. It is hoped the statue will be put in place to coincide with the planned completion and opening of the nearby Upperton Road viaduct scheme, in December 2008. Councillor Patrick Kitterick, cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: "The statue was a Leicester landmark, and we've had lots of interest from people who want to see it back in the area. "The work we are doing on the viaduct will result in an impressive new road layout which will help with the regeneration of the city. Returning the statue would put the finishing touch to the scheme." Stuart Bailey, chairman of Leicester Civic Society, said: "The first suggestion is great - put it on a plinth in the middle of the new roundabout. I think that's a wonderful solution. "It would find a new use for the statue and you would still be able to see it from the riverside." Some restoration work is needed on the original statue, which dates from the 1920s, including replacing its missing torch. Designs will be drawn up for different-sized stone plinths and a plaque if the statue is to be displayed on the Swan Gyratory.
davieG Posted 28 June 2008 Author Posted 28 June 2008 If you believe in luck then it seems ever since she was removed we've been shit or maybe it was Peter Taylor's fault
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 28 June 2008 Posted 28 June 2008 If you believe in luck then it seems ever since she was removed we've been shit or maybe it was Peter Taylor's fault Put it back then
davieG Posted 28 June 2008 Author Posted 28 June 2008 isnt the place where it used to be a bar now? Student accommodation although there is an empty 'shop' on the ground floor suitable for a bar.
Trav Le Bleu Posted 28 June 2008 Posted 28 June 2008 On top of the away dug-out! On a more serious note, I seem to remember reading somewhere that it was made by the same people who made the original Statue of Liberty
AoWW Posted 28 June 2008 Posted 28 June 2008 I have no recollection whatsoever of ever having seen this when I've been in Lestoh. And I lived there for more than 4 years! Tis a worry!
Trav Le Bleu Posted 28 June 2008 Posted 28 June 2008 I have no recollection whatsoever of ever having seen this when I've been in Lestoh. And I lived there for more than 4 years!Tis a worry! Was on the corner of Upperton Rd/Walnut St (not quite sure where one becomes the other, they run into each other (or used to, until the new road layout )) and Eastern Boulevard. You would have had to look up, but from the old Upperton Road railway bridge there was a pretty good view.
davieG Posted 28 June 2008 Author Posted 28 June 2008 From the Upperton Rd Bridge on the way to Filbert St Courtesy of Bentleys
AoWW Posted 28 June 2008 Posted 28 June 2008 Was on the corner of Upperton Rd/Walnut St (not quite sure where one becomes the other, they run into each other (or used to, until the new road layout )) and Eastern Boulevard. You would have had to look up, but from the old Upperton Road railway bridge there was a pretty good view. Drove round that way pretty much everyday for 3 years. Guess i never looked up.
Guest Posted 28 June 2008 Posted 28 June 2008 Drove round that way pretty much everyday for 3 years. Guess i never looked up. If you are anything like me, you would have been glaring at the driver in front of you, and wondering if you could get away with all kinds of violent actions. I hate driving round that part of the city.
davieG Posted 28 June 2008 Author Posted 28 June 2008 Drove round that way pretty much everyday for 3 years. Guess i never looked up. The building was demolished in 2003 and I seem to recall the statue was removed before that.
ASH17LCFC Posted 28 June 2008 Posted 28 June 2008 Be wicked to put it in the middle of the round about. Is a Leicester landmark and looks pretty cool. Leicester > New York
AoWW Posted 28 June 2008 Posted 28 June 2008 If you are anything like me, you would have been glaring at the driver in front of you, and wondering if you could get away with all kinds of violent actions. I hate driving round that part of the city. The building was demolished in 2003 and I seem to recall the statue was removed before that. Hmm, this was sometime before then - much as I'd like to have been able to use that as an excuse for my woeful observation skills!
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