The piece of public artwork, an exact replica of a Fustian needle, will double as a sundial and a bench when it is placed in the pedestrianised St George's Square.

The scheme, to be carried out by Hebden Bridge sculptor Mike Williams, was given the go ahead at Calderdale Council's Planning Committee meeting.

Markings carved into the pavement will give the exact Hebden Bridge time – slightly different from GMT because the town is three degrees west of Greenwich.

Local Calderdale councillor Peter Coles said: "Most people I've spoke to have said we should have better things to spend our money on, but on the whole Calderdale is short on public works of art and I think one day people will look at this and think it a very worthwhile addition to the town."

Eleven letters of objection which raised concerns over the artwork attracting anti-social behaviour and being too dominant for the square were dismissed.

The sculpture which will be largely made from highly polished stainless steel, will represent the town's past as a major textile centre and its future as a highly artistic community.

It forms part of a European research project which seeks to demonstrate the link between landscape improvements and investment decisions.