A NEW bridge designed to be both “functional” and “a piece of art” could be built in Little Lever.

Bolton At Home’s Housing Percent For Art team has been working to create a community art project in the town.

Prestigious public artist Liam Curtin, who who responsible for the Northern Quarter Public Art Scheme in Manchester and created the 50ft Blackpool High Tide Organ in the seaside resort, has been commissioned for the project.

He hopes to create a new bridge over the canal to link Little Lever and Moses Gate Country Park.

Although he has not yet finalised a design, the bridge is likely to be made of English oak and be three metres high.

The £70,000 project is being funded through is being funded through a section 106 agreement with the developer of the Cricketers View housing estate in William Street, Little Lever.

The agreements commit developers to making a contribution to the local area, for example by funding art, education, play areas or road improvements. Speaking at the meeting of Little Lever And Darcy Lever Area Forum, Mr Curtin said: “It is fantastic we can design something which is functional and nice to look at. I hope to create a footbridge which will be a piece of art. I want it to provoke the imagination and inspire people.” Mr Curtin has been holding consultation forums with people living in the area to get their views on the scheme.

He is also looking for suggestions of names for the bridge.

Teenagers from a youth club have been working with Mr Curtin on designs and models for the bridge.

They hope to create a temporary model of the bridge over the canal, before the real bridge is erected in the summer.

Concerns were raised at the meeting about the danger of the bridge being vandalised.

But Mr Curtin said: “We wouldn’t do anything if we were worried about vandalism.

“We wouldn’t park our car anywhere or building anything.

“We have to defy people by carrying on with these things.”