Civic leaders in Market Drayton are celebrating after winning a 10-year battle to get the town’s war memorial back in their ownership.
It has been sold back to them for just £1.
North Shropshire District Council’s cabinet yesterday decided to sell the site back to Market Drayton Town Council to safeguard it for the community.
The town council has also been awarded a £5,000 grant to carry out repair works to the site on Cheshire Street.
Town councillor Val Taylor said it was transferred to the district council in 1974, but the town council has continued to maintain it and asked for the site to be handed back about 10 years ago.
She said she was pleased the site was back in the town council’s ownership.”I’m over the moon we have got it back in Market Drayton for the town council to maintain as we always have done, and we will continue to maintain it how we always have,” she said. “It is brilliant news that at long last we have got it back where it belongs.
“I know the residents of Market Drayton will be happy to have it back because there’s lots of names on that war memorial and it is something people respect.”
A report before district councillors yesterday said restrictions would be put in place to ensure the future community use of the site.
Brian Gillow, president of the Market Drayton branch of the Royal British Legion, said he hoped the town council would continue to treat the site with the “utmost respect and care”.
Share this article:
What are these?