TOWERING over Southampton’s waterfront skyline it will be a lasting tribute to the Spitfire.

Billed as the city’s rival to the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, it is set to take pride of place at the end of Town Quay to greet the thousands of cruise passengers who visit the city every year.

The British designer of the memorial has even gone so far as to say that it will be the city’s equivalent to New York’s Statue of Liberty.

But while Hampshire residents agree that the stainless steel structure will certainly be an impressive landmark, it seems that planners may have missed a vital selling point.

How can it rival the likes of these two other landmarks if you can’t actually climb up it to admire the view?

This was a point aired by several city residents including Southampton cleaner Shirley Broadbere.

The 63-year-old, of Brockley Close, Lordshill, said: “I think it’s a good idea because we need a memorial to the Spitfire. But I don’t think it’s going to rival the Spinnaker Tower as you can’t actually go up it.

“You can’t do anything but look at it. But I think it will look good when people coming into Southampton see it.”

Southampton pensioner Derek Giladjian echoed the same concern. The 81-year-old, of Warren Crescent, Shirley Warren, added: “I think as there were a lot of Spitfires made in South-ampton it is a good idea. It will look good as a landmark but you won’t be able to go up it, which is a major drawback.

“I think the Spinnaker Tower is fantastic as you can admire the views and have a coffee there. There’s not much to see in Southampton once the cruise liners are at sea though. But it would improve the view when you come into the docks.”

As revealed, the enormous tribute following a Daily Echo campaign, will tower 180ft over the waterfront skyline with a wingspan of 110ft – three times the size of the legendary fighter plane.

Associated British Ports (ABP), which owns Town Quay, has backed the ambitious £1.5m plans drawn up by the Spitfire Tribute Foundation.