Amy Winehouse Statue for North London Approved

Authorities have given the go-ahead for a statue of the late singer Amy Winehouse to be erected in Camden, north London.

Councillors on the borough's Camden Town Conservation Authority had initially blocked the plans, but at a meeting this week, gave approval for the statue by artist Scott Easton to be placed on the balcony of the famous Roundhouse music venue in September.

It is believed that the location was chosen partly to steer fans away from the singer's Camden Square home, where vigils were held after her death in 2011, at 27. The sculpture will not be illuminated at night in order to discourage fans from gathering below.

It is also hoped that the statue will help encourage young people to enrol on creative courses at the venue.

The sculpture will depict Winehouse in a short dress, with her trademark beehive hairdo.

Camden had initially criticised the quality of the sculpture, as well as its proposed location.

"We are concerned that this statue of Amy Winehouse should be proposed so soon after her death.

"It often takes some time to devise an appropriate and lasting memorial as well as to provide a really suitable venue. We are not necessarily impressed by Scott Eaton's statue and certainly feel that a much better venue could be found. The proposal certainly seems to have far more commercial aims than the simple one of remembering Amy," it said in a statement.

In an interview with Sky News, Winehouse's father Mitch praised the new decision: "Amy was in love with Camden, and it is the place her fans from all over the world associate her with," he said. "The family have always been keen to have a memorial for her in the place she loved the most, which will provide fans a place to visit and bring extra custom to local businesses."

He added: "The Roundhouse seemed an obvious choice of location as Amy had a special relationship with the venue. She played there with Paul Weller when the venue re-opened in October 2006 and her last public performance was on the same stage just days before she passed away in July 2011."

It was also announced this week that the London Jewish Museum will be holding an exhibition in honour of Winehouse. Assembled with the help of the singer's brother and sister-in-law, the show has been billed as "personal and intimate" and will run from 3 July to 15 September.

Winehouse accidentally drank herself to death at her home, a coroner ruled this year.

An inquest found that she did not have any traces of illegal drugs in her system at the time of her death.