Wilfred Owen statue coming in under budget

Oswestry Town Council agreed in April to commission a statue of Wilfred Owen for siting in Cae Glas Park, and a cost of £40,000.

At an amenities committee this week, town councillors were informed of an update on the work, and that it was currently coming in under budget.

The council entered into a contract with local artist and sculptor Timothy Guy Turner for the modelling of the statue of Wilfred Owen, at a cost of £8,000.

The statue will be unveiled in the park in 2018, on the birthday of the poet and soldier.

Castle Fine Arts Foundry, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant have been appointed to mould on site in Tim Turner’s studio, cast and finish a life size sculpture measuring 6ft tall.

Originally the council had set a budget for £40,000 for the work, but on current costs the work will be coming in at £27,000, making the council a saving of £13,000.

County Councillor Paul Milner said the project is looking good, and the significant saving is a bonus.

He said: "It is all looking good, it is a great thing for the town, and will be in place for 2018.

"In the the current financial climate a saving like this is a bonus.

"The project is going well and there will be more information the more it goes on."

The decision on the statue was taken to recognise the opportunity to provide a legacy for the town and to commemorate Wilfred Owen, particularly acknowledging the centenary of the end of the Great War in 2018 and the 100 years since the death of Wilfred Owen on November 4, 2018.

The area where the statue will be sited needs to be finalised.

It this stage it is suggested by the council that the most suitable location will be the garden where the twenty five pounder gun is located in front of the hedge that segregates the garden area off Church Street from the main grassed area of the Park.

This hedge is to be removed in the autumn/winter of 2017.

The Town Clerk has negotiated with the Royal Artillery Museum that the twenty give pounder gun remains on site at this time until March 31, 2018 as the three-year extension on the current contract has not been taken up at this point.

It still remains an option that can be considered from March 31, although it may be that the Council will consider looking for an alternative location in the Park if the gun is replaced with the statue.