A specially commissioned sculpture for Bishopthorpe Road is only two weeks away, after work got underway yesterday (15 March). Residents of Micklegate ward and their ward councillors backed the idea of a sculpture on the corner of Bishopthorpe and Scarcroft Roads as part of more comprehensive plans to regenerate parts of the ward.

The winning artist, Ailsa Magnus, has been working with local children and community groups on the piece of work, and has confirmed the installation should be complete by around the end of this month.

Coun. Dave Merrett commented:

"This is a resident-led project with resident involvement in the final design. I very much hope this gives the local community some ownership of the sculpture and that it becomes a popular landmark with residents over the coming years. It's an excellent example of local people having a say over their surrounding environment, and improving it for both current and future residents of the ward".

Ward councillor Sandy Fraser said:

"This is the culmination of a great deal of work on the parts of both the artist and those in the community that have contributed. I'm delighted that the artist is local and I believe residents recognised her track record of producing imaginative works of art in places all over the UK".