A ROW has broken out over a piece of art planned for a Teesside town centre.

Councillors have denounced the six-metre high sheet metal sculpture in Redcar High Street.

The sculpture, called The Seven Plaice, is being put up by Teesland Developments Ltd as part of a £26m shopping development.

Members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council planning committee attacked the piece, which is by artist David Kemp.

They also criticised their own planning officers for not conducting a more wide-ranging consultation exercise over the artwork.

Councillor Charles Davies said: "The consultation with councillors and the public has been atrocious.

"There has been just one sign put up and anyone wishing to see an artist's impression has had to go to Guisborough. To me, this work of art, if you can call it that, is an abhorrence."

Committee member Joyce Benbow said: "I'd say no more than 1,000 people out of 40,000 in Redcar even know about it. I've tried to show a picture of this to people of all ages and socio-economic groups and there was not a single voice of approval for it."

Other concerns were raised that the sculpture would be vandalised, could be an obstruction to pedestrians and emergency vehicles, and that it would rust. One councillor pointed out that plaice were not even caught off the Redcar coast. Only one councillor, Richard Rudland, spoke in favour of the piece.

He said: "All modern art tends to be controversial but it raises awareness. I remember all the outcry about the Angel of the North in Gateshead, but if you tried to move a single rivet now there would be an outcry."

Chairwoman Helen McLuckie said the council had completed its statutory consultation requirements.

Following the debate it was agreed that the planning decision be deferred and a special sub-committee be established to investigate further.