I SEE that readers are still pressing for a Southampton wow factor. It is certainly time that options were whittled down and evaluated with a view to selecting the best for implementation. We are losing the race.

Here are my thoughts.

I love the Spitfire and I remember overhead dogfights. Even now, more than 60 years later, the sight of those beautiful wings and the sound of that wonderful engine can bring tears to my eyes.

The Spitfire's link with Southampton merits the highest recognition with a full size (or oversize) replica, appropriately sited. But it is not the commercial wow factor we need.That lies in our shipping heritage.

In search of ideas my imagination has run wild. For example, a large waterfront replica of the Civic Centre tower, perhaps incorporating The Bells of St Mary either by chimes, visible bell-replicas or words. An arm projecting westwards, perhaps undulating to portray Atlantic waves, would have a miniature replica of the Statue of Liberty at its end (proportionately small to indicate distance).

But no matter how I toyed with this idea it remained clumsy and no match for the beautifully simplistic Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth. I eventually came up with the following.

As we need something to convey our historical ocean link with the USA, what better than the Pilgrim Fathers' Mayflower. I propose a large but simple cartoon-type representation of the Mayflower with shortened hull and heightened masts, designed so that strong winds would pass through it.

A curved ribbon-like band underneath it would bear the words "The Mayflower" or "Mayflower Point".

The whole would be positioned at the top of a very tall pillar, based on a plinth, and perhaps decorated with representations of ocean waves, fishes and mermaids - but now so prominent as to distract from the replica ship above it.

The incorporation of a little bright colour would make it more eye-catching.

Southampton University could be invited to run a competitive arts or engineering project to produce the best design. It should be simple, clean-cut, attractive and structurally strong to resist the elements.

Most importantly it must be located at a prominent and possibly enlarged site, either ashore or in the water, so that it becomes a clearly visible and welcoming landmark for incoming shipping.

And, most importantly for the purpose of recognition, the site must be officially named as "Mayflower Point" and appear as such on maps. All that is needed is imagination, determination, finance and action.

ESJAY, Fair Oak. (name and address supplied).