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OWEN BROWN IN BUOYANT
FORM ON SERPENTINE
Leading temporary structure company GL Events Owen Brown
has recently installed a 15m X 25m structure, quite literally on
Hyde Park’s Serpentine Lake.
The structure, from Owen Brown’s new ‘Absolute’ range,
was constructed on a giant floating pontoon over the lake
itself, and featured a distinctive curved roof profile – one of
three roof options available with the new range.
The cutting edge design of the Absolute structure formed
the perfect venue for the official unveiling of the new ‘Isis’
sculpture, which will reside on the lake’s shore. The new statue
is an important element of a £1 million fund raising scheme by
The Royal Parks Foundation to finance the building of a new
environmental education centre in the heart of Hyde Park
The site chosen for the statue and the launch ceremony did
not have sufficient space for a temporary venue to be erected
on the shore of the lake, so a floating pontoon was
constructed for it to be built upon.
The project required a great deal of care and structural
expertise from the Owen Brown team, who had to ensure that
the structure was weighted sufficiently to ensure it stayed in
place, whilst not over burdening the pontoon in any one area.
Even more challenging, access to the proposed site for
Owen Brown’s vehicles and heavy plant was impossible, and
hence the pontoon was built on the far side of the lake,
where the structure was carefully constructed on top of it.
Both structure and pontoon were then floated across the lake
into position. Gables and panels were only fitted to the
structure once it had made its journey across the lake, to
reduce the ‘sail effect’ that could have been created by a
floating structure of this size.
Tel: 01332 850000.
could be certain of their ability to we were continuing to spend money
“Speaking to various people about
resolve the outstanding issues, then we on infrastructure, wages and security.”
this situation, all are appalled at the
would support the district council in Another event was cancelled during
way this has been implemented
applying for an injunction to prevent the summer, in this instance because of
without a period of grace before
the event from going ahead. a last-minute ruling by Norfolk police.
notice. To offer us a solution which is
“We went above and beyond the This year’s Eastern Lights Motorcycle
unachievable due to the time restraint
definition of a ‘Responsible Authority’ Cavalcade, from Norwich to Lowestoft
is so unfair.”
in a bid to work with organisers to try via Yarmouth, was due to take place on
Mr Howard said that he and his
to ensure that the event could go July 26 but the organisers were given a
committee of eight had spent many
ahead, but ultimately both the police licence deadline that was virtually
“Speaking to
hours working on the event and were
and the council had too many concerns impossible to meet. Organisers say they
devastated by the decision. He said that
various people
which the organisers could not address are now planning to shelve the event
he understood from the council that
in time. for good.
about this
any successful application for a licence
But the festival directors Event officials say they were
situation, all are along the route would attract an initial
subsequently accused the police of informed just three weeks before the appalled at the
standard fee of £850 plus individual
taking a politically motivated decision ride that police would withdraw their
way this has been
fees for each road to be closed off.
to shut it down because it attracted cover for the cavalcade if a temporary
implemented
Mr Howard said the major losers
environmental activists and would have road closure license was not obtained.
would be James Paget University
raised money for a major climate They were also told that the licence
without a period
Hospital accident and emergency unit
change demonstration, Climate Camp, would take eight weeks for Norfolk
of grace before
which has benefited from £45,000 in
to be held the following month. County Council to process, making it notice. To offer us
the past eight years, and warned that
Big Green Gathering Chairman Brig impossible to achieve.
a solution which
the move could have huge
Oubridge said: “At the multi-agency Eastern Lights organising committee
is unachievable
consequences for other event and
meeting on Thursday 23rd July, we chairman, Paul Howard, said: “It now is
charity organisers.
due to the time
were still negotiating with the police with regret that our event will have to
A Norfolk County Council spokesman
and the council under the genuine be cancelled because it does not have a
restraint is so
said it was disappointed at the decision
belief that things were progressing and temporary road closure licence.
unfair.” to cancel the cavalcade.
www.tesa.org.uk Event Organiser 9
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