War memorials pledge by council to Ashfield communities

War memorials in the Ashfield area, including Sutton and Kirkby, will be preserved for many years to come.
Councillors Jason Zadrozny and Samantha Deakin at Sutton war memorial.Councillors Jason Zadrozny and Samantha Deakin at Sutton war memorial.
Councillors Jason Zadrozny and Samantha Deakin at Sutton war memorial.

The district council, working in conjunction with the War Memorials Trust, has agreed a five-year maintenance programme that will see Sutton Cemetery and Kingsway Memorials professionally cleaned this year.

There are ten memorials within the council’s patch and the local authority has spent more than £20,000 on repairing and restoring them.

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In 2019, the council collaborated with the War Memorials Trust to secure a grant to restore the memorials in Sutton cemetery, Kirkby and Huthwaite Cemetery, Kingsway Park and Titchfield Park, Hucknall. This is in addition to essential maintenance carried out to the cenotaph in Sutton, replacing the bayonet and repairing the ornate fencing.

Councillor David Martin, the council’s 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.

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Coun Martin said: “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.”

For this year’s Remembrance Day, parades and church services will not take place due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Kirby and Sutton wreath laying will be live streamed on the council’s social media channels.

Poppy lights have been installed outside the council offices in Kirby and at Portland Square, Sutton and will remain lit for a week after Remembrance Sunday.