A SCHEME to erect a stone monument to mark the 400th anniversary of Romsey gaining its charter has been given a £10,000 cash boost.

Test Valley Borough Council's cabinet agreed to release money - taken from developer contributions towards a building project at the La Sagesse Convent site - for Romsey and District Society's ambitious charter stone project at Church Place.

The 13ft 3ins tall eye-catching carved stone monument will portray Romsey's links with waterways and estimated to cost in the region of £38,000.

Borough planning boss, Maddy Winter, told cabinet members on Wednesday the project was a worthy cause and no other suitable ideas for funding had been put forward for the cash.

Speaking on behalf of Romsey and District Society borough councillor Clive Collier, who heads, the team behind the charter stone project, said it was hoped the Romanesque pillar would be unveiled by a "very important person" next March in time for the charter celebrations.

Mr Collier said the stone will incorporate the dates 1607 and 2007 and is designed to reflects Romsey's connection with mills and waterways.

He added that there had been great difficulty in finding the right location to site the charter stone in Church Place because it is riddled with underground cables. The site chosen is alongside the old Romsey Magistrates Court.

Deputy borough leader Martin Hatley pointed out that the commemorative stone would provoke a lot of discussion amongst residents and tourists alike.

Romsey Extra ward and cabinet recreation spokeswoman Caroline Nokes declared that sometimes she got nervous about public art and the debate it often attracted.

"It's attractive and I am glad the hard work of the committee behind it paid off," said Mrs Nokes. And Romsey Tadburn ward's Mark Cooper welcomed the funding. He said: "I am pleased the money is being put to good use. I suspect there will be some negative comment from the public about the stone though."

His fellow Tadburn ward member Sally Leach added: "This is a popular project but when you are spending public money I would have preferred something a little more useful."

In response, Councillor Collier was quick to stress the stone was not being funded by public money in shape or form. Next Tuesday the borough's southern area planning committee will debate whether Romsey and District Society should be allowed to erect the stone at Church Place.