IT looks great – but please don’t sell our art to pay for it.

That was the overwhelming message from the public after plans for Southampton’s Sea City Museum went on show for the first time.

The £15m redevelopment of the west wing of the Civic Centre, which includes a cruise linerinspired extension, was generally given the thumbs up.

Many residents said it was a striking addition to the building, and believe it would attract more tourists to the city.

As first reported by the Daily Echo, the council hopes the extension will bring international blockbuster exhibitions to the city for the first time.

The old magistrates’ courts will be transformed into two permanent exhibitions, titled “Southampton’s Titanic Story”

and “Gateway to the World”.

The museum is due to open in April 2012 on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster.

However, some residents were concerned about the council’s proposal to sell some publiclyowned art to fund it.

The art sale is now on hold as the council waits to find out if has secured £4.6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. A decision is expected next month.

In the meantime, a planning application has been submitted and the council will be exploring other ways to fund it.

The plans will remain on display at the City Art Gallery until Friday, February 12.

There will be an opportunity to meet some of the project team on Tuesday, between 4pm and 7pm.