The Moon Clock, the Magic Boat and other crazy things that never happened in Wirral

On March 10 in 2004, the Globe led on eccentric plans to build a giant tidal-driven Moon Clock – described as the "21st century version of Stonehenge – on the banks of the Mersey."

The structure, made out of a series of concentric glass rings, was to have a diameter even wider than Britain’s most famous prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain.

Visible 24-hours-a-day from land, sea and air, the "Aluna Project" was heralded as an “Internationally-recognised landmark - and a huge tourist attraction.”

And where was this futuristic timepiece planned for?

On land close to the futuristic Spaceport at Seacombe Ferry Terminal, of course.

In 2004, Cllr Pat Hackett - Wirral Council’s then cabinet member for economic development, said the “visionary project” was one of a series of major initiatives which provided the perfect answer for the "moaners" constantly complaining nothing ever happened in Wirral.

But the Moon Clock – also described as a “timeless timepiece linking the past to the future and the ocean to the skies” – never happened either.

After a Globe reader contacted us asking if we knew what happened to the clock, we delved into the archives and found a couple more crazy plans for Wirral that never came to fruition...

The Magic Boat

In 2007, Wirral Council proposed a 30-metre tall “Magic Boat” sculpture would be built on the Eastham roundabout at its junction with the M53, acting as a "gateway feature" for people entering the borough.

But anyone who has driven on that stretch of the A41 in recent years will know the Magic Boat is another one of those things that just never happened.

The controversial plans sank in January 2008 when the Highways Agency objected to the scheme on public safety grounds and called on the local authority to refuse granting permission.

The agency said the £300,000 structure - the cash to be stumped up by council taxpayers - would distract drivers, could attract pedestrians onto the busy stretch of road and ran the risk of being vandalised.
The ruling stunned the boat's supporters.

Artist's impression of Magic Boat - now you see it...

Councillor Dave Mitchell, who was chairman of the Magic Boat working group, said: "I am very disappointed about the Highways Agency's position given that we have worked with them constructively at each stage of this project.

"I am very concerned about the implications of their stance for public art generally and specifically for the 'Welcome to the North Initiative' being promoted through the Northern Way."

The final blow for the Magic Boat may have come when it was revealed by the Globe that it had striking similarities to an installation in County Kerry, Ireland.

Now you see it again

It was created in 1995 for Caherciveen to celebrate the Augustine monks who inhabited the nearby island of Skellig Michael for more than 600 years.

The artist said it was an “extraordinary coincidence.”

After the Globe had pointed out this extraordinary coincidence to the council, a spokeswoman said: "We are aware of similarities between the proposed Magic Boat structure and the Monks in the Boat in Ireland. However, the designers reassure us that any similarities are completely coincidental.

"We would also point out that the iconography of the two structures is completely different, the Irish structure conveying a religious connotation whereas the structure in Wirral conveys the maritime and Viking heritage of the borough."

So that's all right then.

Column 

How 'Column' never looked from Liverpool - artist's impression

Wirral was all set to play host to “ground-breaking” art in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics.

In March 2011, the Globe reported how a “Spinning column of cloud rising from Birkenhead’s Wirral Waters site” would appear from New Year’s Eve to really put the borough on the map.

Funded through Arts Council England, the large-scale light installation - called simply "Column" - was to be taller than the Blackpool Tower and be visible throughout the Olympic year.

The artist behind the project, Anthony McCall, said: “Wirral Waters’ cavernous estuary sky, constantly shifting weather, and its available docks already makes it a compelling location for Column.

"The fact that Merseyside also stands as a focal point for the whole of the Northwest makes it absolutely ideal.”

Column – which would have been visible for at least 100km in every direction - was based on the principle of convection where warm moist air is displaced by denser air.

But delays with planning permission – due to issues with it being on the flight path for Liverpool John Lennon Airport – meant the £500,000 piece of artwork meant it would not be ready in time for the Olympics.

Extra time was given to see Column realised in 2013, but two years later, we’re still waiting.

And after developers Peel Holdings announced last week that they're pulling out of a massive docklands project in the borough, we sincerely hope this picture will never be included in a future recap of the crazy things that never happened...

Artist's impression of how the Wirral Waters site will look in years to come

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• What became of the Moon Clock, no one seems to know. If readers have any ideas, please tell us.
• Can you think of any other crazy plans that never happened? Email emma.rigby@newsquest.co.uk or call 0151 649 4018.