THE ARTIST behind a controversial sculpture recently unveiled on Brentford’s waterside has been told to stop his work amidst a tide of complaints from residents who claim the work is obscuring their riverside view.

Simon Packard, who was commissioned in March 2002 to provide two pieces of publicly accessible art at the Ferry Quays development, was told by developers Fairview earlier this week, to cease his work on the unfinished piece ‘Liquidity’ - which was unveiled by Mayor Roger Clarke two weeks ago.

The reasons for the request are still to be confirmed by developers Fairview, but it is known that a number of residents at the luxury development have been complaining about the sculpture, citing health and safety reasons, and claiming that it has obscured their view of the riverside.

The matter is particularly sensitive to the residents, who say the primary reason for buying the luxury flats - which cost anything up to £500,000 was for the view of the Thames and Kew Gardens.

The sculpture stands at the end of the plaza on Ferry Wharf, and is made of electro-polished stainless steel plates, clad onto a central curved structure, which have been laser cut with images depicting wildlife from the surrounding site and river. Its curves are intended to represent a section of the Thames that has risen up out of the river.

Narinder Sidhu, owner of the development’s ‘Poppadums’ restaurant, said that the piece was beginning to drive his customers away: "This is foolhardiness and a dreadful waste of money and it’s obstructing the views of my customers. We never knew about it, and were never consulted about it.

"It’s just totally wrong in every way. Every person I have spoken to about it has not had a single good thing to say about it. It needs to be rectified."

Robin Cameron, who lives on Soap House Lane, told the Times: "We all want it taken down. As you come down Ferry Lane the whole view is blocked by this thing. The view of the river is what we paid for and it’s just being eroded by things like this.

"It doesn’t even look like a piece of art - instead it provides a nice little hiding place for children to inject themselves and to tip their beer cans in. It’s been nicknamed ‘The Berlin Wall’ and we’re all dreading the arrival of the second piece."

The artist, Mr Packard had been commissioned in March 2002 to provide two pieces of public art - ‘Liquidity’ and ‘Totem’ - the second of which had been due to be installed in late autumn 2003, but could have been thrown into jeopardy by the complaints.

He told the Times this week: "I was asked to stop work by Fairview on September 18. [Liquidity] was not meant to be controversial, but I have heard, third hand, complaints about the sculpture.

“One chap told me he was surprised at the scale of the sculpture, and I have also heard complaints about the rivets and sharpness of it.

"But it’s not completed yet - it was supposed to get lighting which would bring out the handywork."

He declined to comment on whether he would be continuing ahead with work on ‘Totem’.

A spokesman for CiP said: "Work was suspended by the developers whilst the artist was in the process of completing it and ensuring there were no sharp edges. As a piece of public art, the completed work promises to be safe for all those who view and touch it. At this stage however, no clear indication has been received from the developers whether these works will resume."

A spokesman for developers Fairview, commented only: "We were aware that some of the residents were somewhat…underwhelmed by it."

Both pieces were agreed to as part of the developer’s S106 agreement, and were supported by Bush Homes, who own social housing at the development, and the council’s leisure arm CiP.

CiP Trustee, Judy Preece, said she believed the sculpture to be "fabulous", while Dimity Nicholls, Project manager of CiP’s Arts Team said he was "very proud" at its unveiling, while a spokesman for Bush housing labelled it "visually stunning".

Even the Mayor Cllr Clarke has entered the debate, claiming: “It certainly will be a feature of interest.” Others were less enthusiastic: Kevin Robson, who often walks along the stretch of riverside with his grandaughter, Rosie, said he had fears over the sharp edges of the statue: “It’s just a matter of time until someone slices themselves open on it. Also, its supposed to compliment the river setting, but I wonder whether the judges who chose this would have it in their back yard and still call it art?

“I have seen children using it as a toilet."

High Street's verdict THE PIECE of modern art at the new Ferry Quays development in Brentford raised quite a few eyebrows when the Times went onto the high road to gauge the opinion of those on the street.

The work, entitled ‘Liquidity’, is an electro-polished stainless steel plated sculpture by artist Simon Parkard and is designed to reflect its riverside setting.

It is the first of two sculptures commissioned by the artist, with the second one ‘Totem’ due to be installed later this autumn.

However, it has received mixed views to say the least and there are rumours around the Quays that a petition will be started to have it removed.

Tim Warin had to have the work pointed out to him and looking directly at it, he said: "I can’t see anything that looks like a piece of art at all. It looks as much like a piece of industrial junk as anything and doesn’t inspire me with any great thoughts. I don’t think it adds anything actually. Something like the old dock gates are much more interesting and they’ve been there forever."

Krisztof Chmiest, a Polish gardener who has lived in Brentford for the last four months was also puzzled: "It is very ugly, I’m sorry to say. It looked better when it wasn’t finished. Maybe if they put some different colours it would be better. I’m not an artist, but as a gardener, I like plants, but this doesn’t seem to be in the right place, maybe it should be in the city, between buildings, but not here."

Sharon Markert, is from the US, but has lived in Brentford for the last 1 ½ years said: "My first thought was that it was blocking the view of the river, but having looked at it more closely, it’s not that it’s unappealing, it’s just that it is the wrong place for it, but then I am a traditionalist when it comes to art."

Raymond Owusu, added: "I don’t know if it lights up at night, that would be nice, It’s not that bad, it’s quite nice, when they finish removing all the construction doors and scaffolding around it, it will be nice."

Two brothers, Jhauri Rehmat and Dr Ashiq Ghaura also thought it added to the environment. Jhauri said: "It is beautiful and unique. This locality has been neglected for many years, but now it’s much better. It’s just reflecting things concerning the sea. It was a good idea and very beautiful.” His brother Dr Ghaura expanded: "You need to study the art but you’ve also got to see the whole picture. A few years ago, you couldn’t imagine millionaires wanting to live and be proud of living in this area.

“This development should become a tourist attraction and this kind of thing will help. Congratulations to the developers on a high class building and architecture. The art complements it."

But there were more dissenters. Milic Petric was adamant: "This is ugly. Everyone will tell you that anyone here will say the same thing.

“It doesn’t have any sense and it’s blocking the view of the river. I even think the locals are starting a petition against it. They should destroy it."

And finally, eighty three year old Stan Prince, who has lived in Brentford all his life and worked by the docks at Ellis Pumps for forty years before the re-development, said: "I think it is a monstrosity. It’s blocking the view of the river.

“Who arranged it? I won’t say what I really think, but they did the same at the GlaxoSmithKline building by the canal.

“I’m probably being old and grumpy, I suppose, but I really don’t think it is in character with the place."