A woman who has been campaigning for five years to have Warrington’s Cenotaph moved says she has been left “gobsmacked” by proposals to spend £1.3m on moving it to a temporary home.
Julie Francis, who has a son in the army and late father was a veteran, believes it will be a “complete waste of money” by Warrington borough council to pay for a temporary move, while repair works are carried out to the nearby river bank.
She is urging members of the council’s Executive Board to have a re-think at next Monday’s meeting before making a final decision, when they vote on plans to temporarily move Warrington Cenotaph while repairs are carried out to the river bank.
The masonry river wall along the section of the Mersey immediately below the Cenotaph was found to be in a poor state during a routine inspection of bridge and riverside structures.
High water levels and increased river flow have exacerbated this condition in recent years, causing part of the river wall to collapse.
It is difficult to accurately predict the rate of deterioration of the river wall, as this will be heavily influenced by prevailing weather and river flood conditions.
The work will also include improved accessibility to the site.
Cllr Russ Bowden, deputy leader of the council, said: “It’s only right and proper that we maintain the Cenotaph to a high standard.
“Given what this memorial represents, we should certainly do everything within our power to preserve the site for future generations.”
•It is estimated the cost of moving the Cenotaph and repairing will be £1.3million.
•Warrington Borough Council has already consulted with key stakeholders.
•If approved, the work would take place after Remembrance Sunday 2017 and the site would be ready before the same date in 2018.
•The Cenotaph and war memorial at Bridge Foot was completed in 1925 and has been used as a focus for memorial events and Remembrance Sunday since that date.
•Although originally constructed to honour the fallen in the Great War, the memorial now commemorates both World Wars and other conflicts since that date including the Northern Ireland Conflict, Palestine and the Iraq War.
But Julie is upset and angry that she and fellow campaigners were not consulted over the proposals – after they have been campaigning for the council to find a new permanent home for five years.
Some access improvements were made recently but Julie believes this was a waste of money and that because of the access issues, the cenotaph is in the wrong location.
Julie said: “I started at the council over five years ago and prior to that my late veteran dad’s generation did the same.
“I really dont know where this £1.3 million has suddenly popped up from..but a temporary move ?..Really?
“As I see it, it’s a complete waste of money yet again.I am completely gobsmacked by this latest proposal and really am lost for words!”
Julie Francis and fellow campaigners
5 Comments
Why not take this opportunity to move the Cenotaph to a more readily accessible site? One that allows people of all levels of mobility more ready access?
Why don’t they move it to Palmyra Square gardens?
The circular wall around the memorial will have to be reconstructed, but it’s not certain yet whether the Cenotaph itself will need to be dismantled. Most of the costs are for the river wall itself, plus making disabled access.
“Making disabled access”? The position it is in now is juat about the most disabled friendly place in the entire town. Adding a few ramps or whatever piecemeal solution they come up with isn’t going to make actually getting to the site any easier
As Sha says, move it to Queens Gardens where there is already a Boer War memorial and let the visitors have some peace and tranquility as they pay their respects; free from thudering lorries and buses
Common sense that Baz, no chance of it happening though.