PLANS for a £50,000 work of art could put a community in a flap as residents are asked to have their say over the design.

One idea for the public artwork is a 20ft high galvanised steel curlew, designed to be a show stopper, which would be erected on the main roundabout of the new £42m Bedale bypass which takes the main A684 route into the Dales and around the town.

The hope is it would encourage people to stop and visit the town rather than just drive past on the bypass and a small scale copy of the curlew has gone on show in Bedale library for people to comment on.

Hambleton District Council, which is responsible for the public work of art scheme, is asking residents what they think.

The “Bedale Big Bird” as it is known, is the original idea - but it could be replaced by something else if people and heritage groups prove not to be too keen on the idea.

The cash for the piece is coming from the Arts Council which is giving £15,000 towards the project. Another £35,000 will be coming through Section 106 money from developers who have carried out work in the area.

The chairman of Hambleton District Council and Bedale councillor John Noone said: “The curlew is not my first choice I must admit - it is an example of what could be there.

“But the idea of the work of art on the roundabout is wonderful.

“To have the opportunity to have the money to pay for public art at a time when budgets are tight is a bonus.

“It will be really interesting to see what the public think, and what they might have in mind.

“It could be put on the verge at the side of the roundabout if there is concern that it would be a distraction - although I think it would be better to have it on the roundabout personally.”

A spokesman for the district council added: “The initial idea is to create a curlew from galvanised steel that will be approximately 20 feet tall.

“The curlew was suggested for both locality and practical reasons.

“It is a local species and instantly recognisable - also it has very long legs, so the sight lines through the roundabout are not compromised.”

One local resident - who asked not to be named - said: “I think there has been concern that so much money would be spent on this when there are other things it could be better used for - although it could put Bedale on the map in that people couldn’t help noticing it.”