Planners have recommended that councillors approve a stone monument to commemorate Macclesfield's place on the historic silk trade route.

Macclesfield Town Council is behind the proposal for the monument in Sparrow Park, to the rear of St Michael's and All Saints Church, and will be funded by the Chinese government.

A report commissioned by the town council states: "Macclesfield Town Council has been offered a monument by the People's Republic of China to commemorate the Silk Route, which stretches from China to Macclesfield.

"The monument is by Chinese artist JJ Xi and will comprise a stone statue shaped like a silk bobbin, stood on a stone plinth."

The monument will be situated within a circular area of the park in place of an existing sundial. There are also plans to "upgrade and enhance" the paving along with new steps.

Macclesfield Central councillor, Liz Braithwaite, requested the application to go before a Cheshire East planning committee next Wednesday (10 February).

One of the reasons she called it before the committee was the "the scale and height of the proposed monument", which would stand at over 24 feet tall (7.5m).

This concern was echoed by a Tytherington Road resident who has objected to the monument, writing: "I can't believe Cheshire East are considering such a huge sculpture that will be a blot on the landscape of one of the main views and first impressions of the historic town of Macclesfield."

An Ingersley Road resident in favour of the proposal commented: "This sculpture is appropriately located and designed and would be a welcome addition to the visitor attractions of Macclesfield, especially if accompanied by a well-designed indoor display about the silk road at an appropriate location in the future."

In the town council submissions, they stated the monument was "appropriate" for the location and in keeping with the surrounding buildings.

In their report to the northern planning committee councillors, planners listed some of the objections raised throughout the planning process.

These included some political and historical objections, including the "Silk Road's historical links to slavery"; "concerns about associating Macclesfield with the Chinese government, given human rights record"; and the "factually inaccurate" basis of the monument.

However, the council officers considered this was not a valid basis to refuse the application on planning grounds.

The officer recommended it for approval, writing: "The proposed development is considered to be acceptable in principle and to be acceptable in terms of design and flood risk and effects on heritage assets, public open spaces, landscape, trees and amenity."

A number of conditions have also been recommended along with the approval, including that the project commence work within three years and the need for further approval on the specific materials used.

Councillors will discuss the application at the northern planning committee next Wednesday (10 February).