AN iconic sculpture to stand on a roundabout welcoming visitors to Bishop Auckland is being planned.

The sculpture would be up to 30ft tall, made of corten steel like the Angel of the North, and would have two figures – a miner and a bishop – welcoming people to the town.

It has been designed by renowned North-East artist Bob Olley, and it would go on the Canney Hill roundabout to the north-east of the town, where the A688 and A689 converge with local roads.

“It needs to be an iconic structure,” said Bob McManners, a member of the steering committee of Bishop Auckland and Coundon in Bloom. “It needs to be something that announces that you have arrived at the town. It needs to be a gateway to the town and everything that is happening in the town at the moment, where we have the Auckland Project and the Heritage Action Zone doing great things based on history, heritage and culture.”

The Auckland Project, based in Auckland Castle, is investing up to £135m developing museums, art galleries and visitor attractions, with the spectacular Kynren nightshow alongside it.

“First impressions are lasting impressions,” said Dr McManners. “If this town is to recreate itself as a tourist attraction, it has to be welcoming and it has to be proud of what it has to offer.”

The idea was born two years ago when Durham County Council asked the local bloom committee for ideas about the maintenance of the roundabout in times of tight budgets. A wildflower approach was adopted, but it was felt that such a focal point needed a bolder, year-round statement.

Five leading artists contributed ideas, but the committee was most impressed by the design of Mr Olley, a former pitman from South Shields who is perhaps best known for his painting, Westoe Netty. His statue of Stan Laurel already stands in Bishop.

“My brief was that it didn’t have to interfere with drivers’ sight and it had to be able to stand for a long time or if it was hit by something,” he said. He therefore has his figures standing on arches which echo the shape of the iron girders which held up the roof of a coalmine.

A miner’s lamp is behind the miner while the bishop has a large Celtic cross behind him.

Already half of the expected costs of the project have been covered by donations. Last week, a fundraising dinner at Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham, was attended by 200 people, including the Bishop of Durham and county councillors. The guest speaker was Sara Davies, the Coundon entrepreneur behind Crafter’s Companion, based at Aycliffe, who now appears on Dragons’ Den.

“We are going to have to work hard to get the money,” said Dr McManners. “It is not a done deal, and we will be looking towards further sponsorship from businesses and individuals.”

Anyone interested in helping the project is asked to contact him at robertmcmanners@hotmail.com or 01388-602180.

“You can't have an entrance that is a derelict roundabout,” he said. “I would like to think this will become an iconic landmark which takes our heritage into the future to help re-invigorate our town for the benefit of all.”