LEISURE chiefs in Southampton have all but ruled out a scheme to create a giant Angel of the North-style statue to commemorate the victims of the Titanic tragedy.

Instead, civic leaders will be looking at a smaller-scale memorial to remember the sinking of the ship in the lead-up to the 100th anniversary of the disaster in 2012.

Last week the Daily Echo revealed how leisure bosses were looking to create a lasting memorial to the tragedy, which claimed more than 1,500 lives.

More than 500 Southampton people died when the liner struck an iceberg during its maiden transatlantic crossing in April 1912.

One idea put forward was to create an iconic public work of art, similar in size and scale to the Angel of the North near Gateshead.

But deputy leader and Cabinet member for tourism and leisure Councillor Peter Wakeford told a city council Cabinet meeting he had dismissed the idea of a giant structure to remember the victims of the disaster.

He said: "What we are saying is that there is a possibility of a new memorial, provided it could be funded, but I would not like to see a tower like the Angel of the North."

At last night's meeting, civic leaders endorsed a seven-year strategy to commemorate the Titanic anniversary.

An enormous programme of events is planned in the lead-up to 2012, culminating in the possible unveiling of a new memorial to the victims of the disaster - 549 of whom were from Southampton.

Other planned events include Titanic themed cruises, a project to trace living relatives of Titanic's crew and passengers, selling replicas of the city's extensive range of Titanic artefacts and setting up a website dedicated to the tragedy.

The city is also planning to appoint a so called "media champion" for the Titanic commemorations early next year.

The well-known personality would publicise the city's connection to the disaster to world tourist organisations.

Cllr Wakeford told members that the council wanted to engage with the public to find out how best the city could commemorate the tragedy.

He said: "We want people to engage with the council. It is right and proper to recognise the sailing of Titanic from Southampton, but the question is how we as a city commemorate that sailing while remembering the major loss of life.

"It would not be right for us to sit back and do nothing.

"We know how much of a burden this city had to bear 93 years ago. This is not a celebration - it will be a commemoration."

First published Tuesday 22 November 2005