Posted 26 March 2009 at 00:00 in Leader's blog
I am delighted to announce that Preston’s iconic “piddling man” Ribble Link statue is to return.
In January 2008 the “Ribble piddler” was removed due to rotting wood in his legs and ever since we’ve missed him towering over the Ribble Link. It’s just not been the same driving down Tom Benson Way, or sailing or walking down the canal.
Well, he’ll be back for good and there’s no chance he will rot away. This time he will be made of iron and to keep the local connection he will be cast at Coupe’s Foundry in Walton-Le-Dale. The statue will therefore be a Preston landmark for many years to come.
The new statue will cost £30,000 and the funding is being applied for.
Standing 16 ft high the statue was created by Chorley sculptor Thompson Dagnell, following a design competition. He called his creation “gauging the ripple”* but I always thought “filling the lock” might be more appropriate!
At the time (2002), not everyone was keen on the statue but over the time “our piddler” became a much loved landmark and it will be great to see him return.
It’s fitting that the Ribble Link is marked in this way as it an important and historic waterway. The Ribble Link was the first canal built in the UK for over 100 hundred years. The £6m waterway was opened in 2002 and for the first time linked the Lancaster Canal to the rest of the UK canal network. Now the Lancaster Canal gets visitors and boats from all over the country, especially during the busy and lively annual Riversway Festival.
And where Preston leads others follow. Just yesterday (25th March) the Liverpool Link was officially opened by British Waterways and Liverpool City Council. The £22m project shows the importance of canals and associated tourism to the local economy.
The statue is due to be cast and will be back in pride of place at the Ribble Link later this year.
*The ripple is an old historic name for the River Ribble.
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