Anger at plan to move Oswestry park gun for Wilfred Owen statue
Plans to move Oswestry's memorial gun to make way for a statue of Wilfred Owen have been slammed by a group of ex-soldiers.
Oswestry Town Council is holding a special meeting on Wednesday night to discuss the position of a new statue of the famous war poet.
It had been suggested to move the 25-pounder gun in Cae Glas Park to make way for the statue.
However, it has been met with opposition from the Wrexham branch of the Royal Artillery Association which leases out the gun.
In a letter to the town council, Jim Wadkin said: "We object to a statue of any person, regardless of their military or civilian status, being positioned in any memorial garden or garden of remembrance.
"A statue of Wilfred Owen should not give precedence over any other heroic serviceman, some possibly of equal or more senior rank from the Oswestry and district area, who also gave their lives for king and country."
The gun was set up in 1988 as a memorial to all the gunners who passed through Park Hall camp during its 30-year history.
The location of the Owen statue was considered by the Cae Glas Park management group at a meeting on March 29.
The recommendation to the council is to move the 25-pounder gun to the edge of the border and have it alongside the Owen statue.
A report that is going before council also suggests more money will need to be set aside to complete the works.
It said: "The whole border will therefore need to be redesigned to allow for both features to be positioned either side of the border and for the creation of a central floral display.
"Until the final details are agreed by members it is difficult to provide precise costings for the work however, it would be prudent for the council to budget a figure of approximately £20,000."
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It had already set aside a budge of £40,000 for the statue which is being moulded at Castle Fine Art Foundry.
Mr Wadkin also said there are soldiers from Oswestry who were awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery who do not receive the recognition they deserve.
"Wilfred Owen is generously represented in Oswestry with a school, bar and road dedicated to him," he said.
"Brigadier General John Vaughan Campbell VC and Squadron Sergeant Major Harold Edward Whitfield VC, have only a residential close named in their honour."
