PEOPLE yesterday had the chance to see how controversial plans to move a landmark statue would look.

Lord Londonderry on horseback is to be moved about 36 metres from the centre of Durham City’s Market Place to a new position on what is currently parking or turning space at the top of Silver Street.

The plan, part of a multi-million revamp of the area has divided opinion, with some people passionately opposed to the re-siting of a popular meeting point.

Yesterday, a wooden replica of the electro-plated statue was raised on a platform in about the area the Londonderry statue will be placed if the plans win final approval.

Durham City Vision, the organisation behind the scheme, hoped that it might be better than an artist’s impression in giving people an idea of how it would look.

Director Harvey Dowdy said of the revamp: “We are not doing this out of bloodymindedness.

“There are a whole lot of important reasons to make the space more comfortable.

“We are trying to convince the doubters. There are some people we will never convince. I think that today it has about one for moving it and one against.’’ The statue, which needs to be removed for £85,000-worth of repairs that will see it returned to its original brown colour, would have its rear facing Silver Street.

Mr Dowdy said: “The majority of people now come from the Sands car park and Walkergate.

“There are no two ways about it, there is a front end and a back end, and someone will get the back end.’’ Ann and Alan Henderson, of Newton Hall, Durham, gave the plan a conditional thumbs-up.

Mrs Henderson said: “At first I didn’t think it would be a good idea.

I thought it would be further back towards Silver Street but now I have seen it I think it is okay.’’ But she said she was unhappy at the smaller statue of Neptune being moved out of the square altogether to a new location near Back Silver Street.

“I have known the statue since I was child. It is a bit unusual and I don’t think it should be moved.’’