A NEW star is added to the Lincolnshire night sky. Hovering 14m above the top of the pullover ‘The Star of the East’ is a dramatic new art work specially commissioned for Mablethorpe. By night the multi-faceted sculpture gently changes colour against the backdrop of the darkening sky whilst by day it will be a shining sign of the town’s continuing development.

The Star of the East is the centrepiece of a series of environmental improvements for the coastal stretch between Mablethorpe and Chapel St Leonards, which commenced with the revitalisation of Mablethorpe’s Pullover. The Pullover’s makeover included custom-built curved benches meandering up towards the promenade and a series of tapering black granite ‘shadow lines’ inset into the resurfaced ground emanating from the centre of the Star’s supporting column. Each of the shadow lines represents an important date in Mablethorpe’s history from the Great Flood of 1953 to the little known Mablethorpe meteor of 1898. On the precise date of each historic event the granite shadow line will correspond with the actual shadow of the Star’s column at sunrise!

In certain conditions the illuminated star will be visible for several miles and is intended to be a ‘star attraction’ for the town residents visitors new and old. Artist Michael Trainor said that Mablethorpe is the only town in the UK to have its own star: “The art work will have a strong visual presence during the day, become a beautiful beacon of light at night and even has a unique function at sunrise.”

Other works will include improved access to the Seaview Car Park with the current concrete structures being replaced with seating surrounded by natural grasses.

The project, which East Lindsey District Council has contributed £250,000 to, has been led by the County Council, working in conjunction Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea Town Council, Groundwork Lincolnshire and artist Michael Trainor.

The District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Councillor Peter Leather, said the refurbished Pullover would provide a wonderful welcome for people visiting the resort: “It is important that we invest in our coastal resorts. This is something that I’m sure will be of great benefit to those living in the town. The refurbishment will complement the Council’s Customer Service Centre that recently opened on Stanley Avenue in the town and this will hopefully be a prelude to other projects in the town,” he said.