A GIANT weaving shuttle set to be installed as the centrepiece for Nelson's new £2.1million town centre improvements has divided the town.

Town centre traders have claimed the massive sculpture, destined for the junction of Manchester Road, Market Street and Leeds Road, will mean nothing to 21st century residents, given the systematic demolition of most of Nelson and Pendle's old cotton mills.

But supporters of the bronze artwork, by Nelson-based DP Structures, claim the town owes its development to King Cotton and people will be happy with the finished product.

The cost of the sculpture is still to be finalised but will be met through the £2.1million set aside.

Nicholas Emery, town centre partnership vice-chairman, said the decision came just as councillors were discussing plans to pull down the former Reedyford mills.

He said: “Apart from the older generations, very few people will recognise what this is meant to be.

“In one breath we are saying that we should be conserving our weaving heritage then in the other breath we are demolishing one of the last remaining examples.”

Mr Emery also said the sculpture would be ideal for Burnley's Weavers’ Triangle regeneration programme and the concept was not individual enough to represent Nelson or Pendle.

Coun Eileen Ansar, who runs clothing store Slick in Manchester Road, said it was ‘disgraceful’ that shopkeepers and market traders had not been properly consulted over the final design.

But Coun Sheena Dunn, who sat on the three-strong panel which chose the shuttle design, said: “Half of the problems is that the textile mills were built for one purpose, and that has now gone.

“One or two smashing examples of the old mills have been preserved and we should not forget our weaving heritage.

“If people don't know what a weaving shuttle is then perhaps we should remind them.”

The works, set to be completed next year, will create a new ‘high street’, with limited access for cars, created along Nelson's main thoroughfare.