THE Turner Gallery’s pod-like structure built on Margate harbour wall will be a controversial design that will become a major focus and a talking point. That’s the view of David Crofts, from Margate Civic Society, one of the originators of the idea of a centre to celebrate the influential artist’s close ties with the town.

Now the dream is one step closer to reality with the announcement the design of the multi-million pound project that will incorporate three levels and be built partly into the sea, set in stone on the bed.

Mr Crofts said: “Certainly it will raise eyebrows and make people talk. Without a doubt it will put Margate on the map. It will play an integral part in the redevelopment of the town and will put Margate on the internationaI arts stage. I believe it will do more for the town than the Tate gallery has done for St Ives, and that is quite something.”

Cllr Iris Johnston, deputy leader of Thanet council, is another of the of the instigators of the Turner centre. She said: “It will certainly be controversial and will become an icon landmark. It is the most unusual of the all the architect designs that I helped judge. I am assured that it will be perfectly safe and secure on the harbour wall and will offer a fabulous vantage point. It could be the making of Margate.

Kent County Council leader Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said the centre will play an important role in regenerating East Kent.

Speaking at the announcement of the winners of the international competition to find the architects, he said visitor numbers were expected to top 150,000 each year and the centre would create more than 100 jobs.

The competition caught the imagination of over 100 architectural firms throughout the world and the winners - Snohetta and Spence Associates - have completed the new library at Alexandria in Egypt, an internationally renowned site, famous from the ancient world.

The 18-month scheme to build the centre is likely to be finished in October 2004.