Meeting will allow residents to air views on future of crumbling Lord Hill statue

Residents will learn more about the planned repair of the landmark in Shrewsbury and be able to have a say on its long-term future when the meeting takes place on September 9 at Shirehall.

Issues up for discussion include whether the statue should be repaired every five to 10 years, or be replaced with a replica made from different materials.

The meeting, which starts at 6pm, will also look at how repair or replacement should be funded and whether more should be made of the column as a visitor attraction.

The meeting will include presentations about Lord Hill, The Column and the planned repair of the statue which is due to be carried out later this year at a cost of up to £140,000.

Small pieces of masonry fell from the statue in April 2012 which led to it being fenced off, before further pieces fell to the ground in December and April this year.

The statue is to be repaired on the advice of English Heritage but, with further repairs likely to be required every five to 10 years, the council is asking people what they think should be done with the statue in the long-term.

The meeting will form part of an overall consultation, and will also include a summary of comments raised so far.

Councillor Keith Barrow, Shropshire council leader, said: "We want to know what people think should happen to Lord Hill's statue in the long term and this meeting is a chance to let us know your thoughts, as well as to find out more about who Lord Hill was, and why The Column was built in the first place."

Hannah Fraser, Shropshire councillor for Abbey division, said: "So many local people have talked to me about what should happen to Lord Hill's statue, and this meeting offers the chance to come along and make your views known."