HUNDREDS of pounds of taxpayers' money will be spent transporting materials for a new public sculpture because a private access route cannot be used by builders.

The sculpture of Queen Elizabeth I, which will stand at the entrance of the new Charter Walk development, off West Street, is at the centre of the controversy.

Due to be unveiled later this autumn, the magnificent bronze bust will be installed upon a five-feet high stone plinth.

But materials for the plinth and bust have to be transported via West Street because the managing trustee of the Gibbs Trust, Simon Hodgin, has refused access across the piece of land adjoining the Somerfield car park and the new development.

Members of the town council and the Haslemere Society are now appealing to the trust to permit access across this land.

Earlier this year Mr Hodgin from Godalming took the developers, Charlesworth Leisure, to court for trespassing on the strip of land.

Since then, it has become known as the "ransom strip", and builders are now using the West Street entrance to the site.

The extra cost involved in transferring materials for the sculpture via West Street was estimated by town mayor Michael Barnes at more than £200.

He said at last week's meeting of the council that he was also concerned about the inconvenience caused to the public by the construction vehicles on West Street.

Chairman of the Haslemere Society Robert Serman echoed this concern when he told The Herald: "Most of this frustrating obstruction could have been avoided had the developers been allowed to take materials on to the site from the car park, but again it appears the ransom strip proved an insuperable difficulty."

The bust was partially paid for by the bequest of Margarette "Poppy" Rhodes, who also owned a share of the Gibbs Trust.

At last week's meeting, James Mackie said: "Perhaps the Gibbs Trust could be persuaded to make a donation towards the cost of moving the sculpture.

"This is only a suggestion, but it would show goodwill on the trust's behalf."

Ted Orchard said he found it "most odd" that the trust was denying access for a development scheme which would benefit the whole town, including the trust itself.

Mr Hodgin was unavailable for comment.