Public meeting to discuss future of Lord Hill’s Column in Shrewsbury

People can find out more about the planned repair of Lord Hill’s statue on The Column in Shrewsbury, and have a say about its long-term future, when a public meeting is held on Monday 9 September 2013.

To be held in the Council Chamber at Shirehall in Shrewsbury from 6pm to 7.30pm, the meeting will include presentations about Lord Hill, The Column and the planned repair of the statue.

There will also be a question and answer session in which people can ask about Lord Hill, The Column and the repairs, and have their say about the long-term future of the statue, and about The Column itself.

Issues up for discussion are set to include: should the statue be repaired every five to 10 years, or be replaced with a replica made from different materials? How should the repair or replacement of the statue be funded? Should more be made of The Column as a visitor attraction? Should a ‘Friends of Lord Hill’ group be set up to help look after and promote The Column, and more.

The meeting is free to attend but, as places will be limited, people are asked to reserve a place in advance by emailing lord.hill@shropshire.gov.uk.

The Grade II listed Column has been fenced off since April 2012 when small pieces of masonry fell from the statue of Lord Hill, with further pieces falling in December 2012 and April 2013.

Shropshire Council announced last week that 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.

This meeting will form part of this consultation, and will also include a summary of comments raised so far.

Councillor Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, 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. I’m also keen to discuss whether we could make of the Column as a visitor attraction and would welcome people’s thoughts on this too.”

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. I’m also pleased that the perimeter fencing around the Column will be reduced once the scaffolding goes up, and I’m sure everyone will be relieved to be able to use the space around the Column once again.”

People unable to attend the meeting will be able to watch it live on the Shropshire Council website – and will also be able to follow it via the @lordhillscolumn twitter account.

For more information about Lord Hill’s Column, visit the Lord Hill’s Column, Shrewsbury Facebook page.