Plans for sculpture to celebrate Herefordshire business

There are plans for Herefordshire's business and engineering industries to be celebrated with a new sculpture, inspired by a famous British landmark from the 1950s.

A planning application has been submitted for a modern recreation of the famous Skylon structure to provide a landmark in the heart of Skylon business park in the county.

The Skylon was a futuristic-looking cigar-shaped steel structure constructed as the centrepiece for the 1951 Festival of Britain. The proposed new structure will be shorter than the original, measuring at 46m high instead of 90m.

It was manufactured in Hereford and sat next to the River Thames in London beside beside Festival Hall until it was removed in 1952.

The current brownfield site where Skylon Tower would be located is on the junction of Straight Mile Road and the B4399.

As for funding, developers say that a private benefactor would be sought to fund the cost of Skylon Tower if planning permission is granted.