A COUNCIL leader has said it would consider moving a controversial sculpture, made in honour of Benjamin Britten, if an acceptable alternative site could be found.

A COUNCIL leader has said it would consider moving a controversial sculpture, made in honour of Benjamin Britten, if an acceptable alternative site could be found.

Petitions for and against moving Maggi Hambling's controversial 12ft high scallop shell sculpture on Aldeburgh beach are thought to be running virtually neck and neck.

A petition calling for it to be moved has attracted 878 signatures and has been presented to Suffolk Coastal District Council.

Other petitions in favour have been set up in response, including one started last week at JT Pegg's, which made the piece. These have attracted several hundred names in total.

Letters are continuing to flood into the district council offices at Melton, both for and against moving the sculpture.

Now council leader, Ray Herring, said it would "seriously consider" accepting proposals for moving the sculpture if Aldeburgh Town Council could identify an alternative beach site that gained the approval of all key parties.

"We certainly don't want to replace one controversy with another. In practice, that can only mean somewhere else on Aldeburgh beach, if the current location turns out not to be the best one after all.

"We will be meeting shortly with members of Aldeburgh Town Council and also with the artist and representative of those who funded the sculpture.

"Most people agree that Maggi Hambling and Aldeburgh craftsmen, Sam and Dennis Pegg, have created a fine work of art. As things have turned out, there is less agreement about the current site."

But Ms Hambling said: "I continue to be amazed by this because I really thought that Aldeburgh would be pleased with this sculpture. It never occurred to me that any of this would happen. I don't want it to be moved."

Meanwhile, the sculpture continues to attract large numbers of visitors, and it now even features on a mug on sale in the town.

The mug is produced locally by Elmsley Studios, a creative art and design studio at Yoxford.

Janine Berry, who owns the company with husband Nigel, said: "I think it's a stunning image."

The couple have produced a range of mugs with Suffolk scenes including Crag Path at Aldeburgh, the House in the Clouds at Thorpeness and scenes of Southwold, and the scallop mug was released just a couple of weeks ago.

n See tomorrow's East Anglian Daily Times for details on how you can take part in a referendum on the future of the Aldeburgh statue.