The Forward Statue based in Centenary Square was controversial - some loved it, some loathed it.

The Forward Statue on fire

The decision to replace it with the bronze monument of Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch, which currently sits outside the city's register office is proving just as controversial.

The statue will be renovated, placed on a new flood-lit plinth and re-gilded at a cost of £50,000.

When the Forward statue burnt down, Ian Ward the cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture said there were three options:

Ian Ward

To recommission Raymond Mayson to re-do the statue.
To commission a totally new piece.
To relocate an existing statue.

The William Murdoch statue was due to be relocated from it's current position, so putting it in place of the Forward statue seemed favourable.

The Civic Society of Birmingham has welcomed the decision

Click here to listen to Steve Hartland from the Civic Society. He thinks the memorial statue is a fitting tribute to Birmingham's Industrial past.

Bruce Tanner, Chairman of the Civic Society believes the positioned in Centenary Square "will do justice to a splendid sculpture".

It gives an essence about the three people who began to make the city as we know it today.

Graham Allen

Graham Allen, Head of Museums and Heritage Projects in Birmingham said it will be a fitting tribute: "We felt this was an opportunity to re-site it in a prominent and contemporary part of the city that gives an essence about the three people who began to make the city as we know it today".

Not everyone is happy about the decision

Tessa Jaray who was responsible for the overall design of Centenary Square in 1991 said: "It is totally inappropriate - Centenary Square is quite wrong for it. It's not a three dimensional piece. Who is going to get the backside!

And Professor George Noszlopy from the Institute of Art and Design at UCE "would prefer to recommission a replacement for Forward in a more permanent material."

What do you think?

One passerby said she would like to have seen a water attraction: "There are already a few in Birmingham and I think they make the place look much prettier."

Let us know what you think. Should the William Bloye statue showing Matthew Bolton, James Watt and William Murdoch we put in Centenary Square? Have your say.