Work on a sculpture trail should be halted while proper consultation takes place, according to town councillors in Sheringham.But North Norfolk District Council has confirmed that as the proper channels had been followed and a planning application had been approved through the usual process - plus the fact that Sheringham Town councillors sat on the sculpture trail committee - the district council would not stop the trail being built.

Work on a sculpture trail should be halted while proper consultation takes place, according to town councillors in Sheringham.

But North Norfolk District Council has confirmed that as the proper channels had been followed and a planning application had been approved through the usual process - plus the fact that Sheringham Town councillors sat on the sculpture trail committee - the district council would not stop the trail being built.

At a meeting of the town council on Tuesday last week, concerns were raised that there had been no communication from the district authority. Worries about the quality and maintenance of the proposed trail prompted all but three on the council to vote to write to the district council and Sheringham Plus, who are behind the project, to ask them to halt the work while further discussion took place.

Last month's planning approval gave the green light for artists to start work on £33,500 trail through the town, which will include seawall murals and bronze-like resin walls murals.

Town councillor Stephan Booth said that he was staggered that a scheme like this could be progressed with the district council and Sheringham Plus' full knowledge and with no communication with Sheringham Town council.

And Richard Parks added that was worried about the maintenance and restoration of the murals which he said would take a hammering as they were by the sea.

He said: “Nobody has brought it to the council and one of our councillors is the chair of the committee. This project has not been thought through. There has not been a single project or drawing presented to this council. We are going into this totally blind.

Anne Webster, who has been involved with the sculpture trail plans, said she had previously given councillors a copy of the plan, although conceding here had been a shortage of time on that evening. However the focus group has been open each evening for discussion.

A spokesman for North Norfolk District Council said the town council was represented on the group that put together the idea and negotiated funding.

He added that the planning committee gave the project, which was subjected to the normal planning procedures, its approval.

“We cannot halt the project because we have given it planning approval and it is up to those who are behind it to do what they wish.”