A controversial proposal for a three-meter-high (approximately 10-foot) hare sculpture in a Lancashire town square has sparked debate between local officials and civic groups. Rossendale Council has submitted a planning application for the "Bowland Hare" sculpture, which would serve as a centerpiece for Rawtenstall's new Town Square, but local heritage advocates argue the artwork doesn't represent the area's cultural identity.

The proposed steel sculpture would stand 3.5 meters high and 1.4 meters wide, constructed from steel plates mounted on a steel column with a concrete foundation. The installation site is located near the new bus station within Rawtenstall's official conservation area. While the square itself isn't a listed historic site, it sits directly across from a Grade II listed National Westminster Bank building, raising concerns about the sculpture's impact on the area's historic character.

The sculpture proposal has connections to a previous art installation that captured local attention. Several years ago, Darwen-based artist Marjan Wouda created a sculpture known as "Sir Hare" as part of a temporary exhibition in Rawtenstall's Whitaker Park. That installation also included a dog sculpture, which has since found a permanent home in Clitheroe. Some Rossendale residents have been campaigning for the return of Wouda's original hare sculpture, leading to an online fundraising campaign on Spacehive.

Wouda believes the sculpture would benefit the community in multiple ways, stating it would promote Rossendale tourism, ecology, education, and folklore. However, the planning decision must focus strictly on regulatory considerations rather than cultural or economic benefits. Technical documentation for the project has been provided by Keskin Consulting Structural Engineers of Preston, which references a similar hare sculpture located on a hill near Wyresdale Park, north of Garstang.

According to Rossendale Council's planning report, several key factors will guide the decision-making process. These include heritage preservation, visual appearance, residents' quality of life, accessibility, parking availability, and road safety concerns. The report emphasizes that councils should ensure new developments contribute positively to local character and distinctiveness while sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets.

Growth Lancashire, an advisory body that provides guidance to local councils, has offered qualified support for the project. While acknowledging the sculpture's large scale, the organization noted that this section of the Rawtenstall conservation area has undergone significant changes in recent years. The area now features a contemporary bus station, a redesigned public square, and upgraded modern public infrastructure, creating what Growth Lancashire describes as "a more contemporary character to the area that can accommodate a contemporary sculpture of this scale."

However, the Rossendale Civic Trust has voiced strong opposition to the proposal. The heritage organization argues that a hare is not a symbol traditionally associated with Rossendale and would not be appropriate for the town square setting. Instead, the civic trust suggests that Whitaker Park would be a more suitable location for such an installation, presumably because it would have less impact on the historic town center.

Despite the civic trust's objections, Rossendale planning officers have indicated they believe the sculpture would be acceptable for the proposed location. Their preliminary approval comes with several important conditions, including the implementation of pedestrian and traffic safety measures and strict controls over construction debris, dirt, and loose materials during installation. The final decision will ultimately rest with the development committee, which must weigh the various planning considerations and community input before making their determination.