- By Alex Pope
- BBC News, Bedfordshire
Image supply, National Highways
The cat nonetheless stays in place on the Black Cat roundabout on the A1 between Sandy and St Neots
A much-loved landmark sculpture of a black cat that has been stolen, damaged and vandalised over the years is to be moved to security throughout A1 roadworks.
National Highways mentioned the big steel feline, on the Black Cat roundabout, close to Bedford, might be “sorted” throughout development.
A £950m upgrade of the A428 Black Cat route from Bedfordshire to Caxton Gibbet, in Cambridgeshire, is deliberate.
The art work first appeared 20 years in the past and has been changed a number of instances.
Image supply, National Highways
Two kittens had been added to the roundabout in 2019
The Black Cat roundabout, on the junction between the A1 and A421, simply south of St Neots in Cambridgeshire, takes its title from the storage and restore workshop that was within the space within the Twenties.
In 2004, a landmark art work was created by 4 males, together with Jack Pike.
“When I retired from being a parish councillor within the early 2000s, I gathered collectively just a few of my engineering mates and we put collectively a plan to assemble and set up a black cat statue on the roundabout,” he mentioned.
Image supply, National Highways
The cat and its kittens might be moved to a secure place whereas development work takes place
It obtained its artwork deco type from a “pawtrait of the cat on the unique storage clock tower”, National Highways mentioned.
It was attributable to be produced from plywood “however my pal Clive mentioned he may reduce it in steel,” Mr Pike added.
As the roundabout obtained greater, a bigger feline was constructed, the unique was taken down and now resides in Mr Pike’s again backyard.
The cat, with a big tail, was spray-painted white by vandals in 2019 and a grimacing smile was added
It reveals the way it was stolen in 2007 by “cat burglars”, damaged in 2013, vandalised with spray-paint, cleaned up, and had two kittens added in 2019.
Paul Salmon, senior challenge supervisor at National Highways, mentioned it was regularly requested what would occur to the black cat.
“We totally perceive the significance of the black cat as an area landmark, and considered one of our challenge ambitions is to depart a purr-fect legacy, so, don’t fret, we might be taking care of the cat and her kittens throughout development,” he mentioned.
They are attributable to stay in place till subsequent 12 months, and can then be eliminated and returned when the upgrade is because of be accomplished in 2027, he added.
The new 10-mile (16km) twin carriageway will hyperlink the Black Cat roundabout to the Caxton Gibbet roundabout on the A428 between St Neots and Cambridge.
Image supply, National Highways
Plans are in place for development of the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet enhancements, National Highways mentioned
