Would you want it next to your home? This is the controversial sculpture that is set to soar 30 feet into the Southampton skyline.

And today city planners are poised to splash out £80,000 of public money by giving the scheme the go-ahead.

Many local residents have branded the plans a waste of public money and some have expressed fears the giant statue could interfere with their TV reception.

Named The Shear the art work is the brainchild of sculptor Eilis O'Connell whose original design was sent back to the drawing board after concerns were raised by regeneration supremo Councillor Paul Jenks.

Southampton City Council has already predicted it could be facing as much as a £22 million overspend by next year but the cash for the sculpture will come from a separate budget for regeneration supplied direct from the Government.

The Shear will stand at the entrance to the Bevois Valley area of the city at the junction of Lodge Road and Thomas Lewis Way.

The abstract design, which represents a sword, is now totally vertical rather than set at a 72 degree angle and is slightly shorter than first envisaged.

And the so called 'giant cheese grater' look has been replaced with a structure akin to an upturned aeroplane wing.

Mr Jenks said he was happy with the concept and choice of stainless steel as material for the sculpture- but he was not excited by the original design.

"But now I think the design looks a lot better. She was 99 per cent there originally but with the changes we have got a design that is really attractive.''

The towering structure will contain nearly seven miles of cable and will commemorate the rope working industry in the area. It is also meant to symbolise the sword of city legend Sir Bevois, thought to be the son of Sir Guy of Southampton, who performed heroic knightly deeds across Southampton.

Art students from Winchester Art College and Southampton Institute will weave the cable to create the convex panels and if planning permission is granted the sculpture could be in place by June.

Four million pounds of regeneration cash has been spent revamping Bevois Valley and Mr Jenks explained that including artwork in the scheme was an important expression of the growing confidence in the area.

"People say the money should be spent on other things but I think public art is important because it shows the new confidence that there is in Bevois Valley," he said.