Witney News - Children's art to brighten up Marriotts hoarding

Children's art to brighten up Marriotts hoarding

The hoardings around the Marriotts Close construction site in Witney are about to be brightened up by colourful images of West Oxfordshire life painted by local children.

Paintings by pupils from six primary schools have been chosen in a competition open to all primary schools in the District. The primary schools are: Aston & Cote, Hanborough Manor and from Witney: The Batt, Blake, Tower Hill and Witney Community primary schools. The painting will be enlarged and displayed from around mid-May.

Older children will also get the chance to exhibit their artwork as the competition is in two stages. An invitation has been sent to secondary schools and youth groups throughout West Oxfordshire.

Cllr Jill Dunsmore, Cabinet Member for Communities said, “There was a fantastic response and we had 122 entries from pupils aged from 6 to 11 years old. Selecting the best ones was very difficult and I’d like to thank the children who took part as they all put in such a lot of work. I am very much looking forward seeing the artwork up on the boards.”

Martin McGread, Project Manager for Simons Developments, added: “It is terrific that we can support the local school community and raise awareness both in terms of the development and safe construction practices. All the entries were of a very high standard, and our most difficult task was picking the winners. We look forward to putting these on display for the people of Witney.”

Deadline for secondary school entries is 22nd October. The theme ‘Images of West Oxfordshire life’ will be the same as primary schools. More information is on the council website, www.westoxon.gov.uk/marriotts.

This competition is being run by West Oxfordshire District Council and Simons Developments. At the end of the competition Simons will present a cash prize to the school judged as submitting the best entry in the primary group category and the best in the secondary group category.

The Marriotts Close development is due for completion in autumn 2009. It will include shops and restaurants, a multi-screen cinema and multi-storey car park plus a recreational area and new homes.