A £90,000 statue of Yorkshire fast bowler Fred Trueman is to take pride of place at Skipton’s Canal Basin.

Councillors at Monday’s planning meeting of Craven District Council agreed the statue should go up in Skipton – although not all were convinced of the proposed site.

They were told the 2.7-metre-high (8ft) bronze statue on a stone plinth, showing the cricketer bowling, would be placed next to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and would mean the loss of a maple tree.

Some suggested it would be better off elsewhere as the removal of a tree would upset the balance of the public area.

The statue, originally proposed for outside the town hall, has been made by sculptor Graham Ibbeson, who has also made statues of Eric Morecambe and Benny Hill. It is estimated the statue could generate thousands of sightseers to the town after it is unveiled next month.

Coun Stephen Butcher, who told councillors he was a former friend of the late cricketer, who retired to Flasby, said it was a good place for the statue.

“He was without doubt one of the greatest bowlers of the 20th century,” he said.

But Coun Ady Green said a statue of a sporting legend should be placed at one of the town’s sports venues.

“If this guy had been a famous narrowboat chap then the canal would have been the right place, but this should go up at one of our sports pitches,” he said.

Coun John Roberts said Mr Trueman’s widow, Veronica, was supportive and Skipton should be proud to have the statue.

It is due to be unveiled on Thursday March 18.