BURNLEY'S designs for its public art project the Panopticon have been altered because of fears it could scare wildlife. The Singing Ringing Tree is a whistling scaffold structure which is planned for land at Crown Point.

But horse riders and wildlife groups criticised the original plans because of concerns the whistling would be too high pitched and could scare animals.

The architects have now gone back to the drawing board and have changed the designs to alleviate their worries.

The plans are now being displayed so people can comment on the design.

A spokesman said: "This was the favourite design of a large majority of Burnley people who responded to the public consultation. However, there were some concerns about the volume of sound that would be created and the potential for scaring the horses and wildlife. These have been taken on board.

"Firstly, the Panopticon will be calibrated so that it makes a low tuneful sound rather than a high-pitched noise. The size of the pipe has been selected to give us sound at relatively low wind speed, but we can control the sound to specific notes and chords the wind will play."

Secondly, the designers will be working with wildlife groups to ensure that animals and birds are not affected. The specific site of the Panopticon will be selected to ensure that it is some distance away from the paths used by horses and dog-walkers.

The public exhibitions will give people another chance to comment on the designs before they go forward to local steering groups in the first week of April. If approved, they will then go forward for planning permission. The planning process will provide yet another opportunity for public consultation.

Nick Hunt, Director of Mid Pennine Arts, which is co-ordinating the Panopticons scheme, said: "The partners in Panopticons are delighted by the designs that have emerged. These designs have been shaped and improved by the influence of local people through the consultation process. Now we ask residents to look again, give us more feedback and help us to complete the process. We want to create new landmarks that attract attention from far and wide, but that belong to East Lancashire."

Planning permission is in place for Colourfields, to be built at The Cannon Battery, Corporation Park, Blackburn, and The Atom, destined for Wycoller Country Park, Pendle, and building is expected to begin in the first half of 2005.

A third, called 'Halo, will be built, subject to planning permission, on Top o' Slate above Haslingden.

Designs for the Ribble Valley are on hold and plans for the Coppice in Hyndburn are out for public consultation.

Panopticons is a project of the East Lancashire Environmental Arts Network (ELEAN), which aims to demonstrate the positive role of the arts and cultural activity in the social, economic and physical regeneration of East Lancashire.

ELEAN is managed by Mid Pennine Arts and supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, the East Lancashire Partnership Regional Park programme, Arts Council England North West, Lancashire County Council, REMADE, Elevate East Lancashire, the local authorities of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale, Rossendale Leisure Trust and Pendle Leisure Trust.

The Singing Ringing Tree plans will be on show until March 31 at Burnley Mechanics, Manchester Road Central Library, Grimshaw Street, Mid Pennine Arts, Yorke Street, Towneley Hall, Towneley Park and the What Now Shop, 11 Finsley Gate.