Council looking to build new war memorial
A developer is being asked to allow a war memorial on land it owns, and councillors and residents have already pledged thousands of pounds to the project.
Donnington and Muxton Parish Council has discussed siting the monument on land to the east of Marshbrook Way, Muxton, near the existing “Soldier’s Bench”.
Clerk Ralph Morgan confirmed to members the patch was free of underground utility pipes and cables, and said he had written to the company that owns the land, asking them to allow construction.
Previous meetings have heard that local schoolchildren could be asked to help design the memorial, and that St John’s Church, about 600 metres away on Saltwells Drive, is being considered as a second-choice site.
Mr Morgan, who had been asked to investigate the suitability of Marshbrook Way, told councillors: “I’ve now had it confirmed that there are no utilities running under that site.
“I’ve had it confirmed that Prowting Homes Midlands Ltd own that land, so I’ve written to them asking them to bequeath us the land and am now awaiting their response.”
The Soldier’s Bench – one of two in the parish – was installed there, near the junction with Lytham Green, in early 2019.
Minutes of the council’s January meeting say Councillor Jay Gough, who represents The Humbers and is leading on the war memorial project, “explained that he had been considering various options as to what type of memorial to propose and suggested asking the schoolchildren at Muxton Primary School to design one”.
The report adds that “St John’s Church wanted more information regarding the size and style of the memorial prior to agreeing the use of its land”.
Minutes of the November meeting say councillors Nigel Dugmore and Adrian Lawrence – who both represent Muxton at both parish and borough level – had each agreed to donate £1,000 from Telford and Wrekin “Councillors’ Pride” discretionary fund toward the war memorial.
“Some residents of Muxton had also promised to contribute towards the project,” the minutes add.
Cllr Lawrence told this month’s meeting he still had those constituents’ contact information.
“When things are better I can go round and see them,” he said.
In 2002, Prowting was bought by Westbury Plc, which was itself acquired by Persimmon Plc three years later.
A spokesman for Persimmon Homes West Midlands confirmed it owns the Marshbrook Way land, adding: “We are happy to begin discussions with Donnington and Muxton Parish Council regarding the war memorial and look forward to receiving their letter.”
