A business group has hit out at one of Birmingham’s best known pieces of public art – claiming it is dragging down the image of the city centre.

Business Voice WM – which represents a diverse range of organisations from the chamber to the Law Society – said the so-called Floozie in the Jacuzzi is often out of order and creates the wrong impression of Victoria Square.

The work, called The River, is by Dhruva Mistry. The bronze statue and fountain outside the Council House has sat empty for several months and is known to have had leakage problems going back as far as 2002.

The lobby organisation has now written to Sharon Lea, strategic director of environment and culture, at the city council urging immediate action.

BVWM’s Gary Saunders, who represents the West Midlands Chambers of Commerce and is business development manager of Erdington-based Churchill Office Solutions, said: “Victoria Square is a key feature of Birmingham, but the city does not show itself to its full advantage when the fountain is often not operating.

“This gives an odd impression that the city is not fully functioning as well as it should. It is small touches such as this that can have a disproportionate impact on people visiting Birmingham for the first time.”