Roundabout to get fossil-inspired statue

9:20pm Saturday 6th September 2008

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One of three fossil-inspired models is to be transformed into a full-scale statue for the centre of a notorious roundabout.

The Seven Dials junction, one of Brighton’s accident hotspots, is to be graced with a striking statue marking the area’s architectural heritage.

The three designs by Brighton artists Jon Mills, Guy Stevens and Myles Dacre are based on ammonite fossils, seen on many of the city’s Regency and Victorian buildings by Amon Wilds and his son Amon Henry Wilds.

Both used the spiralled shapes on facades of their buildings, probably as a punning reference to their forenames, at Oriental Place, Brunswick Square, Regency Square and Montpelier Crescent, among many others.

The sculpture is being commissioned as part of Brighton and Hove City Council's works to upgrade the roundabout and its approaches, where 20 accidents a year are recorded.

The council says it needs to redesign the roundabout to make it safer and eliminate accident blind spots.

A public exhibition of the shortlisted artists will run from Saturday, September 6, until Saturday, September 20 The £30,000 statue will be paid for by public donations, businesses and a range of other bodies.

The exhibition is being held at Mishon MacKay, 99-101 Dyke Road, Brighton, from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

The public is being asked to give their opinions in the comments book provided or by contacting Siobhan Osgood at the council on 01273 293907.

A panel consisting of residents, retailers, councillors and council officers will select the preferred artwork at the end of September, taking the public's views into account.

The successful artwork will be unveiled in January and could be in place as early as next summer.

What do you think of the designs? Tell us below.