Shropshire Star

Star comment: Council in dilemma on Shrewsbury's Lord Hill statue

You have to feel for Shropshire Council's conservation officials, who find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place in their attempts to rescue and restore      Shrewsbury's iconic Lord Hill statue.

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From the moment that the perilous state of the landmark was revealed, the local authority has been pro-active in its attempt to find a solution.

All along, it has been open with the public, and listened to residents' suggestions, culminating in a packed public meeting last night to try to thrash out a plan.

Quite understandably, the council might well want to take the statue down until funds can be raised for a replacement, saving the taxpayers' money which is currently being spent on scaffolding.

But – equally understandably – the guardians of the nation's history, English Heritage, are nervous of giving their blessing to the plans unless there is a definite date for the statue's replacement.

Worse than that, the authority could actually be reported to the Government for an 'act of demolition' if it attempts to take the 17ft statue down.

This may sound rather draconian, but English Heritage cannot be blamed for taking such a stance. We would be the first to complain if a lack of strict rules or regulations was putting even more of the country's at-risk structures in danger of extinction.

So, where exactly does this leave us? Essentially, with a broad church of local people desperate to do the right thing, but no clear consensus on the best way forward.

The formation of a new Friends of Lord Hill's Column group to front the project, working in partnership with English Heritage and the council, would seem a sensible first move.

But it will undoubtedly take many months to raise the estimated £350,000 needed to buy a replacement statue.

So the valiant Lord Hill will have to continue his near 200-year battle against the elements at the top of the column in Abbey Foregate, and put on a brave face through one more British winter. His heart will surely be warmed, though, by his new circle of Friends.

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