Giant M6 Saxon warrior statue 'would be in the wrong place'
This giant statue of a Saxon warrior, inspired by the discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard, could appear near the M6 in the county.
But the proposal for the 114ft monument near Stoke has already been criticised, as the site would be more than 30 miles from where the hoard was found.
Council bosses want to spend £3.5million on the warrior in connection with the hoard, the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever unearthed found in Hammerwich near Burntwood.
Lichfield District Councillor Ken Humphreys, who represents Hammerwich, said: "I have seen what they are hoping to do and I am not happy with it being so close to the M6 where it will be more of distraction than a monument, and the fact that Stoke is the wrong place for it."
"But I am not in favour of it at all really.
"The sort of money its going to cost could be better used for permanent displays of the hoard in Lichfield."
Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which is behind the plans for the statue, has stated the city has its own 'special significance' to Anglo Saxon history.
While much of the hoard is on display at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke.
The council has declared the bronze statue will be the 'gateway to the city' stating it could be Stoke's 'Angel of the North'.
Half of the £3.5million has been raised already. It has not been specified as yet where exactly the statue will go.
Despite Councillor Humphreys said Stoke was an inappropriate location he said he would not like to see a monument in Hammerwich.
"I went passed the Angel of the North and thought it was a bit of a monstrosity," he said.
"Hammerwich is the location where the hoard was found and we are very proud of it but it is a small village.
"We do lave local recognition and signs acknowledging the hoard."
The Staffordshire Hoard was discovered my metal detector Terry Herbert in 2009.
It is now jointly owned by Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham city councils and looked after by museum trust in both areas.
