CABE voices concerns over use of big screens across towns and cities

Plans to site giant screens in towns and cities across the UK to show coverage of the Beijing Olympics and other material, and which will remain in place until after the 2012 London Olympics, have run into criticism from the Government's design adviser.

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has warned that the 'Live Sites' project could have a serious impact on the public space of many urban areas. Under this initiative between 45 and 60 screens will be left in towns and city centres.
 
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympics Games are supplying the screens while the BBC will provide the content. The project is funded from the National Lottery and commercial sponsorship. Local authorities will be responsible for maintenance costs.

CABE supports the idea of access to the Olympics for the widest possible community via temporary screens but has serious reservations about leaving them as permanent installations. The commission's concerns echo those of other amenity bodies like English Heritage, the Civic Trust, Living Streets and the English Historic Towns Forum.
 
All want the screens steered towards new buildings and spaces where digital media would be appropriate. Their concern is that some of the spaces selected for the giant screens provide a setting for historic buildings or are the focus of a conservation area where any new development should preserve or enhance the area.

'Just when we're starting to create well-designed, civilised public space in many English towns, along comes a rash of intrusive neon screens.

Having a fun, relaxed time in our streets and squares should come from the character and design of a place, not something that feels more like an outdoor Currys,' said Sarah Gaventa, director of CABE Space.

She added: 'This is not urban regeneration. If it is going to work, funding needs to be earmarked for physical improvements to the spaces for which screens are proposed, and for proper curating to ensure the cultural programmer is high quality.'