COUNCILLORS have ditched plans to erect a giant sculpture of a curlew at the entrance to a North Yorkshire town in favour of a group of steel deer.

A 20ft high Curlew was the original plan for a public work of art to help put Bedale on the map.

But after an outcry from residents and concern from heritage groups that it didn’t fit in with the town’s historic buildings, Hambleton District Council went back to the drawing board.

Now a family group of deer is the favoured scheme, and the council is going out to consultation again to see what people think.

The aim is to encourage people into the town and act as a gateway from the new bypass into and out of the Dales.

The deer, five adults and three fawns, which are roughly lifesize, would be put on a grass verge at the entrance to the town from the bypass, between the road and the town’s golf club.

Steve Lister, head of leisure for Hambleton Council, said: "We got mixed views to the curlew, some people loved it others hated it. Also Historic England advised us that the scale of it would be in conflict with the church and Bedale Hall.

“We were also advised that Bedale Hall Park was a medieval deer park, so the idea for the deer group came about.

"We also felt it didn’t conflict with the surrounding architecture.”

The Public Art Fund has donated £15,000 towards the cost of the art.

Mr Lister added: "The final decision for the structure is about attracting attention and encouraging visitors to come into Bedale, it is about signposting the town and helping the local economy.”

  • The proposals will be on display at Bedale Library from Wednesday July 12, to noon on Saturday July 15 and at Bedale Leisure Centre from 1pm on Saturday 15 to Sunday July 16.