Concern raised over state of war memorial on Lord Street

by
24th August 2015

Concern has been raised over the state of the war memorial on Lord Street.

The monument is a tribute to the memory of 1,824 soldiers who lost their lives in both World Wars, with the addition of two names following fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Despite the historical significance of the memorial along with its rare ‘grade II star’ listed status, former residents are angry that it had been allowed to fall into disrepair.

The part of the monument causing concern is where the two gated sections, which house the names of the fallen, sit inside the pillared structure.

Mr Ben Jackson from Southport said: “It is disgraceful that it has been allowed to get so dirty. This monument marks the sacrifice that these great lads made for us.

“2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, a time in which the names of those lost can be honoured in a manner that the fallen so rightly deserve.

“But looking at the state of it right now with, it now looks like it was soon forgotten?”

Mr Ben Jackson highlighted various points for improvement including the dirt-stained lighting bowls, cigarette ends, weeds growing from the memorial’s stonework and rusty bins surrounding the monument (below).

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“Sefton Council have told me it would cost £1,600 a year or £50 a week to keep that part of the monument clean. That for me is not a great expense when you think about what these boys did for us.”

 

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