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Castle 'Tower Of Peace' Has "Slim Chance"
A plan has been proposed to build Europe's tallest free-standing Marahishi tower in the grounds of Grade I listed Nottingham Castle. According to planning officials the proposal by Cropwell Butler Parish Council chairman Andrew Doughty, has a "slim chance of succeeding if a planning application were made." Mr. Doughty is also the Chairman of the Natural Law Party in Nottingham. He wrote a letter to planning officials, explaining his ideas. The structure would dominate the castle and the skyline for miles around. "The size of the proposed structure on such an historic site would pose a considerable problem," said Mrs Brinley of the city council's development control department. The building, or 'The World Tower Of Peace' would be used to hold a regional parliament, according to Mr. Doughty's plans. Speaking on BBC East Midlands Today he explained: "We collect the money for the country here, so it's an appropriate place to have an assembly which can spend that money." The original castle was built by order of William The Conqueror in 1067. It was used as a council chamber in the middle ages. It was demolished after Charles I was defeated in the English Civil War. The war began when he raised his standard in 1642. The castle's demise ended centuries of Royal Patronage. Today's castle stands on the old one's site. It is made from many of the original stones of its medieval counterpart.
The land was later purchased by the Duke of Newcastle. Upon it he built the present day 'Ducal Palace.' A gang of city-residents stormed the building in the 1830's and set the castle ablaze. The rioters were protesting after the Duke voted against a parliamentary reform bill, concerning taxation. The castle lay in ruins for a number of years until the Duke leased it for 500 years to Nottingham Corporation in the late 19th century. The Corporation later rebuilt and restored the castle, eventually opening to the public as an art gallery and museum. Ken Brand of Nottingham City Civic Society, believes that castle could face a similar ruin if the Marahishi tower project went ahead. He said the caves below the castle would not be able to support such a huge structure. The height of the tower would, however, depend on the width of the base. Yet the principle of a World Tower of Peace is that its height should be twice the size of its base. Mr. Brand said Mr. Doughty's plans score "high marks for audacity and low marks for practicality." Tim Jones, the city
council's press office manager would only say that Mr.
Doughty "is entitled to his opinion. The balloon, spanning more than 22 metres, would take up to thirty tourists at a time. Mr. Walker thinks that it would rival London's Millennium Wheel. Residents in the Park area have dismissed the project as being "Mad Cap". This project would cost £750,000 and would be expected to attract 500,000 visitors. "We are not happy, there is a worry that the council will grade any madcap idea;" explained David Richardson, director of the Nottingham Park Estate Company. This plan has been rejected, according to planning officials. Last year there was a controversial sculpture on display, called the 'Cathedral for the new Millennium.' It was an inflatable piece of work, allowing people to walk inside it. Created by Alan Parkinson, aged 50, of Basford, it cost £50,000 to create and was around 25ft high with a width of around £50,000. Meanwhile, if Mr. Doughty applied to create his own vision, city planners admit that they would be forced to consider his application. Source of Photos: |
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