Owl takes flight as landmark wreckers strike
Date published: 11 November 2009
NOW you see it, now you don’t . . . mindless vandals used heavy duty cutting equipment to destroy a treasured Lees landmark.
The Owl and Fox sculpture has become a familiar sight to motorists passing Leesbrook Mill where High Street turns into Lees Road.
But the fox now stands alone after someone stole the owl by sawing its stand post in half.
The sculpture was unveiled in April, 1995, as part of a major overhaul of Bank Top Park which became Leesbrook Nature Park.
A £135,000 Government grant funded a major revamp to transform the area into an attractive public facility around the River Medlock.
One irate resident said: “The Owl and Fox has been a focal point in Lees for 14 years and now some idiot comes along and destroys it.
“You have to wonder what goes through the minds of people like these. It’s just so unnecessary and pointless.
“I’m not saying the sculpture was an amazing piece of work or vital to the community but it’s something that everyone knew about and saw every day and it’s so infuriating that some yob has come along and wrecked it just because they feel like it.”
Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “We became aware of this several days ago and I am at a loss to explain why anyone would do something so mindless. The owl and fox sculptures were placed at the entrance to Lees Brook Nature Park back in 1995 and have since become a local landmark.
“They were installed as symbols of civic pride – although that is clearly a concept which the perpetrators of this alleged act are not familiar with. We’re treating this as an act of deliberate vandalism and criminal damage. The owl appears to have been forcibly cut off, which would have required either a saw or the use of heavy-duty cutting equipment.
“This was a piece of bespoke art originally produced for a display at the Tatton Park Flower Show. We are now trying to contact the artist and ideally would like to get a replacement done in cast metal.
“However, we are appealing for the public’s help in tracking down the person or persons responsible for this. If anyone has any information, I would urge them to contact either the police or our Parks team in confidence on 0161-770 4642.”
