THE Solar Pyramid could boost Poole's economy by £20 million a year, says the town's tourism boss, who is championing the controversial attraction.

Residents have rushed to pour scorn on the prospect of a 40-45 metre sundial, possibly sited at Harbourside Park (Baiter), but Bruce Grant-Braham, chairman of Poole Tourism Panel, is all in favour.

"It's not every day one gets the opportunity for an attraction of national importance," he said. "It's a vote of confidence in Poole that they have approached the council.

"We would be negligent if we didn't do a feasibility study on behalf of the industry in Poole," he said. "A developing town really should have some iconic architecture."

The tourism panel and Town Centre Management Board, of which he is a member, enthusiastically supports the Solar Pyramid management team's proposal to the Borough of Poole, he said.

It was a self-financing package, however the team favoured a waterside setting and Poole council is currently undertaking a £40,000 feasibility study which will consider sites, including its own open space at Baiter.

Many now iconic national attractions generated fierce opposition when first suggested, including the Louvre Pyramid, Eiffel Tower and the Angel of the North, he said. "Imagine if someone tried to take away the Eiffel Tower now."

The giant sundial - the height of the former Poole Power Station chimneys - would be a work of art with scientific and strong educational elements, could attract up to 400,000 visitors a year, compared with 12 million a year to the Dolphin Shopping Centre and 1.5 million to the old Poole Pottery.

"We are realistic. Not everybody will want this on their doorstep. People are going to love it or hate it," he said.

Poole and Bournemouth are already investigating a waterbus service and he believes this, the use of land trains, town centre parking and the park and ride could mitigate transport and parking problems.

"I would quite happily be prepared, for environmental reasons, to say 90 per cent of people should arrive on foot and only those with mobility problems could come by car," he said.

"If it does generate up to £20 million for the local economy, that's not a bad return on the feasibility study investment."