Silos drawings branded quackers

A fierce debate has started about whether a Midland landmark silos should be demolished when the British Sugar site is developed into a business park.

There has been suggestions the huge storage structures, which dominate the Kidderminster skyline, could be used as a place to adorn paintings or public artwork done by school children.

But some say the idea of having drawings of Donald Duck on them would be "terrible". Others say the silos are ugly and not a part of the town's heritage worth keeping.

Planning officers are currently consulting people on a future vision for Kidderminster and consequently are asking for comments on how they think the town should be improved to make it more attractive for residents and visitors.

Over the years the silos have attracted a lot of comments both for and against.

Gavin Logan, aged 68, who was born on the site during an air-raid and later worked at the factory for 38 years said: "People have got short memories.

"When they first asked for planning permission nobody thought we should have have them. Now people suddenly think they should stay," he explained.

"There should be talks with civil engineers about what else they could be used for. If it helps with the development of the site I believe they should go," he said.

Councillor Mike Shellie, who sits on the council's regeneration and enterprise committee, said: "Can you imagine it – a drawing of Donald Duck stuck up there? It would look terrible.

"I think they should be blown up as soon a possible," he added.

Regeneration manager on Wyre Forest District Council Ken Harrison said: "There has been a lot of comments about the British Sugar silos about whether we should make a feature of them or whether they should be destroyed."

The Kidderminster sugar factory closed in 2002 and was sold off to overseas company Cill Dara.

Peter Burford, a spokesman for the developers Cill Dara, said: "We plan to drop the silos at some point in the future. But we are obviously keen to hear of any ideas for retaining them that would be commercially worthwhile," he said.

"Nobody would dispute that they are a landmark but for them to stand unused is a little difficult to justify," he added.