Have your say about the future of Lord Hill’s Column in Shrewsbury

The future of Lord Hill’s Column in Shrewsbury will be discussed at a free public meeting at Shirehall on Monday 9 September at 6pm, and people are being encouraged to come along and join in the discussion.

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, and should visitors be charged to climb to the top? Should a ‘Friends of Lord Hill’ group be set up to help look after and promote The Column, and more.

The meeting will include presentations about Lord Hill, The Column and the planned repair of the statue that is due to be carried out later this year.

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

There is no need to reserve a place in advance and people are welcome to just turn up on the night.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.