War Memorial Restoration Plans
Across the District, Ashfield District Council has 10 war memorials. In recent years the Council has spent over £20,000 on repairs and restoration of the memorials including specialist cleaning.
In 2019 we collaborated with the War Memorials Trust to secure a grant to restore the memorials in Sutton Cemetery, Titchfield Park, Hucknall, Kingsway Park, Kirkby and Huthwaite Cemetery. This is in addition to essential maintenance carried out to the Cenotaph in Sutton, replacing the bayonet and repairing the ornate fencing.
Working in conjunction with the War Memorials Trust, a five year maintenance programme has been agreed that will enable our war memorials to be preserved for many years to come. The rolling five year plan will see Sutton Cemetery and Kingsway Memorials professionally cleaned this year.
Cllr David Martin, Cabinet Member for Streets, Parks and Town Centres said
“We know how important the war memorials are to our local communities and we want to ensure that they remain in good condition for the future generations to remember. Our five year restoration plan demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the memorials remain places we can be proud of, places we can reflect and places where those that have fallen will never be forgotten.”
Recognising the high level of community interest, a Community Protocol has also been developed that will provide clear guidance on what aspects of maintenance around the war memorials can be carried out by community groups.
Cllr David Martin continued
“The protocol will enable community groups to work in partnership with the Council and be involved in the preservation of the war memorials. This support can be provided in a number of ways including basic maintenance such as litter picking, weeding and tidying of wreaths around the memorials.
“We know how important the war memorials are to the local community, and we want to ensure that residents can continue to be involved in their maintenance in a way that will allow them to be enjoyed by future generations.”
For this year’s Remembrance Day celebrations the usual parades and church services are unable to take place, but events will still be held across the District to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in active service.
The Council will be holding a virtual Remembrance Day on our social media channels, the Kirkby and Sutton wreath laying will be live streamed, and residents can get involved by displaying poppies in their windows.
Poppy lights have installed across the District and will remain lit until the week after Remembrance Sunday. The lights have been installed at;
- Kirkby – outside the Council offices
- Sutton – Portland Square
- Hucknall – Market Square
- Selston – Nottingham Road
- Underwood – Alfreton Road
- Jacksdale – Main Road
- Huthwaite – Market Place
- Annesley – Badger Box
- Stanton Hill – High Street
