A distinctive piece of artwork left "languishing" in storage for years is set to return to Deal pier.

Dover District Council (DDC) says it plans to reinstall a waves sculpture which previously sat above the site's entrance.

It comes after a petition signed by 60 residents was presented to the authority’s overview and scrutiny committee on Monday night, calling for the “integral and impressive feature of the pier” to be restored.

The sculpture formerly flanked the clock above the concrete entrance to the site, behind the statue of a fisherman wrestling with his catch.

Helga Wood, organiser of the petition and a trustee of the Deal Museum, attended the DDC meeting to lobby councillors.

“Nobody can claim that Deal pier in its present incarnation is a thing of beauty,” she said.

"The combination of waves, fishermen and fish was symbolic of Deal’s maritime history, and became valued and loved by residents and tourists alike, being the subject of paintings and photographs by many Deal artists.

“Representations of both art elements can be seen on many postcards of Deal, as well as in a blown up version on the walls of Deal library.”

A council officer gave a presentation to members, explaining that the sculpture was removed for repairs, particularly to the deteriorating clock, which has since been replaced.

“We wanted to restore the pier to its former splendour in terms of its 1950s and 1960s iteration, and this is what we have," they said.

However, Mrs Wood slated the “frankly pathetic” replacements, which consist of a neon strip and digital information screen.

The waves were made in 1999 at Nailbourne Forge in Littlebourne, using money from the Rouse Kent Public Art Award.

The same forge is lined up to undertake the repairs.

Another council officer told members that “it was taken down on the understanding it would need some repair and it’s languished a little bit as other priorities have intervened”.

The sculpture has been sitting in DDC storage at Elms Vale since its removal in 2019.

Councillors voted unanimously to note the petition and encourage officers to restore the sculpture.

Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Wood said: “I think it’s critical because the pier itself is really not very attractive, it’s very functional and the wave sculpture gave it a status that it didn’t have without it.

“That was quite a relief to me to know that it's actually in existence and it could be restored.

“We would love it back it - would just be so nice, and it can’t be that difficult.”

A DDC spokesman told KentOnline the sculpture will be reinstated.

“We are not yet able to put a timeframe on this, but hopefully within the next few months,” they added.