Consulting on changes to Oswestry war memorial gates would be 'futile' because of listed status - councillor

Councillor Jay Moore believes the gates in the town “are tired”, so has been looking into whether a new archway could be built.

The money to fund it, he said, could come from the Smithfield reserves that the town council acquired following the sale of the former livestock market.

His motion, heard by Oswestry Town Council this week, was to initially consult with local veteran groups to settle on an appropriate concept and design, then to engage with artists and metalworkers to ascertain how much it would cost.

“I appreciate the stone is expensive but the gates do need work done and we have to preserve them,” said Councillor Moore.

However, Councillor Duncan Kerr said “it is futile” to even do that without liaising with experts due to the memorial’s listed status.

“I understand the sentiments behind the motion, but unfortunately life is not as simple as it could be,” said Councillor Kerr.

“The only time we’ve made changes to the war memorial, it took five years - and that was to change the names on the plaques.

“The reason these things take so long is because the gates and memorial are listed and they are deemed to have significant architectural merit. Under law, we have to conserve it as it was originally built, not to improve or add to it.”

Councillor Kerr added that when the memorial was built in 1920, it was deemed the most appropriate.

“It’s irrelevant what our generation think – anything you do to it harms the building,” he said.

“You can only get planning permission for that harm if you can demonstrate you are mitigating it. Aesthetic considerations because it will look nicer won’t be entertained. So it’s simply pointless discussing an application if all we’ve got to go on is aesthetic consideration.

“You will cause a lot of anxiety and waste of time if you start a wider discussion. It’s about what you do first.”

Councillor Kerr therefore proposed an amended motion which would involve consulting English Heritage, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, War Memorials Trust, the Civic Society, and the conservation team at Shropshire Council to understand the limitations of the listed status of the war memorial.

“I accept that,” said Councillor Moore.

“The arch was just an idea given, but it may be something completely different. But those discussions need to happen.”

The amended motion was approved by the majority of councillors, with one member abstaining.