Artists’ work smooths the troubled waters in former crime hotspot

A FORMER crime hotspot in Macclesfield has received an artists’ makeover thanks to creative duo Glassball and Cheshire East Council.

The ‘Waters’ project, situated in Waters Green underpass and near Middlewood Way, has now turned an unsavoury subway into a welcoming part of town.

The two local artists, Cora Glasser and David Ball, created artworks portraying hidden stories of Macclesfield past and present, using donated photographs.

Glasser said: “Working with local residents, Macclesfield museums and Arighi Bianchi – who allowed us access to their archives – provided us with a varied and rich body of information that shaped the artworks you see today.

“The underpass at Waters Green represents a complex merging of the many layers of movement within a context of local heritage, folklore and everyday functionality.”

The year-long regeneration project encouraged the local community to come together and many residents have offered stories and pictures to be used in the art.

Cheshire East Council has landscaped, cleaned, painted and lit the underpass with low energy LED lights to improve visibility and safety after dark.

Collr Don Stockton, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: “To get to where we are now is testament to the Cheshire East Macclesfield regeneration and cultural development teams, who have shown incredible vision to realise this aspirational project.”

The project was largely funded by the council, with support from the Cheshire Police Crime Commissioner’s fund, Network Rail and Tesco’s bags for life scheme.
 
On Monday December 19, as well as the unveiling of the art installation, wildflower seeds will be sown to create a meadow along Middlewood Way, which will attract wildlife in the spring.