The £20k bench has landed: Work starts on controversial seat for Wolverhampton city centre

But shoppers have given a mixed reception to the showpiece black granite seat, in Princess Street, that is an art feature designed to turn the street into a gathering place for visitors to relax.

The bench is being installed as part of a £1.6 million revamp of the shop lined street that has being turned into a pedestrianised zone.

Wolverhampton Council's city assets chief Peter Bilson said: "The bench is a unique design that has been produced specifically for this location.

"It incorporates detailed artwork which has required a significant amount of skilled stonemasonry work.

"It is befitting of a city and the council's regeneration plans, and combines an art feature with a piece of street furniture where people can sit and relax."

Created with materials from China the stone bench has cost £19,698. The money has come from a Section 106 planning agreement, money paid by property developers towards leisure facilities.

Charles Brown, 34, a security guard, of Lime Street, Pennfields, said: "It doesn't make any sense to spend money in these sorts of amenities in the centre. It's going to attract anti-social behaviour. The money would be better spent on creating jobs. That's what people in Wolverhampton need not pedestrianised streets."

Businessman Brian Nia, 40, of Market Street, said: "It's good that the council is improving the city centre to make it more attractive to investors and shoppers. The city needs more of this to invite all the West Midlands to Wolverhampton instead of them going to Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

"About 10 years ago this street used to be filled with revellers enjoying clubs and the nightlife on weekends and it's not like that now. Now that it's starting to look better the council should offer potential businesses lower rates to draw back some of the clubs and good standard restaurants."

In addition to the new pavements, traffic signals will be upgraded at the junction of Market Street and Bilston Street; the junction of Garrick Street and Snow Hill. While four new bus shelters will be installed on Bilston Street.

The direction of one-way traffic has been temporarily reversed along the pedestrianised section of Queen Street, King Street and part of Dudley Street.

Council bosses say the scheme will make the city's main shopping areas more pedestrian friendly, while also reducing the number of cars driving around the centre.