South Yorkshire: Nerves of steel in dispute over huge art work

Thousands of people gathered to see the dramatic demolition of the Tinsley towers, which was meticulously planned to ensure the explosives involved did not damage a viaduct carrying the M1.

Once the dust had settled, the owners of the site said they would provide £500,000 for public art to replace the former power station relics, a gesture to recognise the place they had held in people’s hearts.

Months later, ambitious plans for an iconic 100ft Man of Steel to celebrate South Yorkshire’s steel and coal heritage were drawn up by Sheffield artist Steve Mehdi, who soon found backers in business and academia.

But Sheffield Council, the planning authority responsible for the area, showed no interest and said it was holding back £500,000 pledged to taxpayers by power firm E.ON, which owns the site.

Since then Mehdi has found an alternative site for his project, won planning permission on August 13 and is currently working with Sheffield University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre on a four metre version.

Meanwhile, no tangible progress has been made by Sheffield Council on how to spend the half a million pounds pledged by E.ON, but the authority still refuses to engage on the Man of Steel saying it is a “separate project”.

It is understood that the council has been repeatedly lobbied over the Man of Steel by backers including the chief executive of Sheffield Forgemasters Graham Honeyman and Master Cutler Pam Liversedge.

Mehdi said he was “very disappointed” with Sheffield Council’s approach to the project.

“There seems a current trend within the arts establishment to concentrate on celebrity artists.”

The sculptor said he received a positive response from neighbouring Rotherham Council, which had met with him, and FCC Environmental the owner of the former landfill site where the artwork will now be built.

Mehdi said although the £500,000 would be a welcome boost to his project, he was confident he and his backers could make the Man of Steel a reality without it.

A spokesman for E.ON said there was no reason its money could not be contributed to the Man of Steel sculpture but added the decision was “for Sheffield Council”.

In a statement, Amy Carter, Sheffield Council’s head of arts said work was still “ongoing” at the council on what she called its M1 Gateway Public Art Project.

She added: “The artist 
brief is in development and is being informed by detailed discussions with Arts Council England, Yorkshire and strategic arts organisations in the 
region.

“The proposals for the artwork will form part of the wider economic regeneration for the Lower Don Valley area. E.ON has committed £500k to the project overall and Arts Council England have funded an initial £26k towards the project.

“There is no set date for the delivery of the artwork which will be dependent on the funding being secured.