Swansea Council is taking a new early step in transforming the city centre Castle Square into a greener, more welcoming space.
Preparatory work already carried out on site includes the re-laying of high-voltage cables to reflect the square’s future design which the council has created with the help of much public engagement.
The next step – taking place over the coming days – will be the careful removal of the Leaf Boat sculpture.
It will be put into safe storage while the council, in liaison with others including the sculptor, decides on a future Swansea location for the artwork.
The council intends is to find a new permanent home for the sculpture, reflecting its links to poet Dylan Thomas.
Cwmdonkin Park is one of a number of locations under consideration. Discussions will continue and the council will keep the public informed.
Main work is expected to start on Castle Square’s transformation in the weeks after the sculpture’s removal.
All businesses in the area will be trading as normal.
Council cabinet member Robert Francis Davies said: “It’s great to see work moving ahead at this pivotal location; our new-look Castle Square Gardens will be a fantastic place to meet, spend quality time and enjoy public events and gatherings.
“This multi-million pound project will be part of our ongoing £1bn regeneration of Swansea; it’ll complement work already carried out – or underway now – in neighbouring locations such as Wind Street, Y Storfa, the former Castle Cinema and the McDonald’s building.
“We thank the public for their understanding as we work to finalise plans and look to start the main work.
“The Leaf Boat sculpture will be stored safely for future use in Swansea.”
The glass and steel sculpture was created by artist Amber Hiscott, inspired by lines of Dylan Thomas’s poetry and the way light reflects off Swansea Bay.
She won a council competition to create a sculpture for the square and it was installed in 1996.
The South Wales contractor undertaking the item’s removal – DAR Design – is the same business that manufactured the sculpture in collaboration with the artist.
Main work on the new-look Castle Square is due to be completed towards the end of next year. It will see today’s tired-looking Castle Square become greener and more welcoming to all.
The transformation will include:
- The addition of two pavilion buildings for food, drink or retail businesses – one with an accessible green roof
- An increase in the amount of other greenery, including new lawns, ornamental and biodiverse planting to provide an area with 40% green space
- A new water feature for interactive play
- New giant TV screen above a bandstand-style facility
- New outdoor seating areas
- The retention of public use space
