Campaign to save Shropshire village's tilting Buttercross

Bill Scriven, the chairman of Alveley Historical Society, says something needs to be done to save the stone cross, which dates back to the 14th century.

Mr Scriven said a ditch dug to take water from the roadway has directed water to the cross which is making it unstable. He said: "It is starting to tilt. Water is being diverted off the road and that makes the ground go all soggy and it may be causing it."

A stone cross two miles outside the village, the Buttercross dates back to the time of the Black Death when it was a place for food to be left for the village when it was quarantined.

Mr Scriven said he has had contact from as far afield as America, where people with links to the village have offered to donate money to the restoration of the cross but they are in limbo without permission from English Heritage or Shropshire Council to get the work complete.

He has been campaigning as historical society chairman since 2011 for something to be done to the Grade II-listed cross.

Mr Scriven said: "It is a joke, an absolute joke." Shropshire Council says it is now looking into the problems raised by Mr Scriven.

Graham Downes, Shropshire Council's highways manager for the Bridgnorth area, said: "Shropshire Council responded to an assessment prepared by Historic England (then English Heritage) in September 2012, to clear the verges around the Buttercross and remove the moss on the monument, which we undertook on September 26, 2012.

"I am aware Mr Scriven has been contacted by staff from the council's natural and historical team.

"The team has responded to Mr Scriven's, concerns, and informed him that it has contacted the conservation officer and Historic England to ascertain the position with the structure, and will update Mr Scriven when it has received the responses in relation to this."