Southport people are being asked to have your say on who you think should be immortalised in steel across your local cycling route in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The appeal is being made by national active travel charity, Sustrans.
From famous authors or Olympians, to celebrities, business people and pillars of the community, Sustrans’ Portrait Benches campaign has already installed over 250 of these life-sized sculptures across the UK, with the last one unveiled over 11 years ago.
Thanks to new funding from the Department for Transport, local residents are once again being given the opportunity to nominate who you think these new benches should represent from the past 70 years (alive or passed).
Rosslyn Colderley, Sustrans Director for the north of England, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that the National Cycle Network continues to enable as many people as possible to walk, wheel, cycle, and run, and that we celebrate our local communities, cultures, and heritage on the routes.
“We’re thrilled to be inviting the public once again to have their say on who the new figures will represent.
“Nominating is simple and takes just a few minutes, but will provide us with valuable insight on who our local communities feel would be most deserving of this special recognition.”
Sustrans is custodian of the National Cycle Network which spans 12,000 miles of signed cycling routes, including over 5,000 miles of traffic-free paths.
Nominations will close at 11.59pm on 11th April 2022 and can be placed at www.sustrans.org.uk/campaigns/portrait-benches-project-2022/. T&Cs apply.
Nominations for the Portrait Benches will be reviewed by Sustrans alongside dedicated partners, with each confirmed figure agreed on and the final design approved. Renowned artist Katy Hallett will fabricate each piece, with official installation and unveiling to be carried out later this year.
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