This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One and West Lancashire Borough Council wants to help owners of war memorials ensure their monuments are looking their best. For many this historic anniversary will make Remembrance Sunday an even more poignant occasion this year. With this important dates approaching the Council wants to work with churches and other organisations to ensure their memorials are in the best possible condition. If any owners of war memorials want to discuss undertaking works and the possibility of receiving a grant they should contact Ian Bond, Heritage and Environment Manager, by Friday 4 April on 01695 585167.
It is expected that any works agreed would be completed by 31 October 2014, in good time for this year’s Remembrance Sunday services.
Councillor Adrian Owens, portfolio holder for Estates, said: “2014 will be a very important occasion as it will be 100 years since the start of World War One. Organisations with responsibility for looking after war memorials should contact us to see if they are eligible for a grant to carry out any necessary works on the memorials.”
Councillor Martin Forshaw, portfolio holder for Planning and Development, added: “I would urge the owners of memorials to work with us so we can help them make sure all the memorials are in the best possible condition in good time for the poignant events of this year.” The Council carried out works on memorials it is responsible for in Coronation Park, Ormskirk, Victoria Park, Ormskirk, Skelmersdale, Burscough, Newburgh and Lathom in 2013. Repairs to damaged stone, re-pointing of the memorials, cleaning the stonework were included in the project. Letters and inscriptions have also been repainted and repaired. At Skelmersdale new seating and a standing area was also created, and a beautiful poppy mosaic was installed. Extensive bulb planting had previously been carried out by Midstream (West Lancs) Ltd in 2012 as part of this project.