March 2, 2001 10:02: A £200,000 granite sundial has been donated to Marlow by a property company - but its proposed new location is set to cause a headache for councillors.

Wycombe district councillor James Campbell (Marlow North, Lib Dem), said many people in the town believe Court Garden, Higginson Park, is an ideal spot for the twelve tone granite sundial.

However, the Marlow Appeal for a Permanent Tribute to Sir Steven Redgrave, which is planning to build a statue to honour the Olympic hero, has already applied for planning permission to have the life-sized sculpture placed in the same spot.

Martin Andrew, Wycombe District Council's conservation officer said: "We initially thought the sundial would be perfect in the gardens in front of the 18th century house."

He added: "The two are equally important to the town and we will need to think very carefully about where we place both and not make any rash decisions."

Neither of the sculptures have planning permission but it is thought that the plan for the statue in Court Garden, will go ahead because of the group's early application.

The sundial was offered to the town after property company Akeler took over the buildings at the Parkway, Globe Park, in Marlow.

It is thought to be worth up to £200,000 and funds from the district council's Conservation Urban Design Budget will be used to transport it when a site has been found.

Decisions on both sculptures will be made at a meeting on March 12.

By.Michelle Fleming