Petition is launched to relocate town’s Memorial Gardens gates
jpco-6-3-13 Memorial Garden Gates and Tablets (Pic by Jon Rigby)
A petition has been launched to move Crawley’s Memorial Graden gates, which honour those who died during both world wars, to a more visible location.
The memorial gates currently stand at the entrance to the Memorial Gardens by County Mall.
But veterans and labour councillors want the gates and memorial plaques to be more visible and propose to move them to the Queens Square entrance, opposite Marks and Spencer.
John Mortimer, a former serviceman and member of the Crawley branch of the Royal Naval Association, said: “All of my life the gates have been here but they are hidden.
“We should always strive for the work of our Armed Forces to be given the respect and recognition they merit, and this is an important way of doing that.”
Campaigners say moving the gates would be a fitting tribute to the first world war’s 100th anniversary next year.
The petition will be passed to Crawley Borough Council.
Cllr Geraint Thomas (Lab, Northgate), who launched the petition with Cllr Michael Jones (Lab, Bewbush) outside the memorial gates, said: “Before County Mall was built, the memorial gates were on the main road in Crawley, and everyone passed them. Now it’s at the side entrance, relatively few people do. The gates are now literally overshadowed by the vast bulk of County Mall.
“While we think that the council will give this proposal a fair hearing, we’re launching the petition this week to show the strength of feeling we feel certain there is in Crawley for this to go ahead.”
The council has signed up to the Community Covenant which encourages local communities to support the armed forces.
Cllr Jones added: “These fine metal gates and plaques deserve far more than being stuck behind a shopping centre. This would be a fitting way to mark the Community Covenant as a borough. To do it in time to mark the 100thanniversary of the beginning of the First World War next year, would be a fitting memorial for the occasion”
To sign the petition contact Cllr Jones on 07944 578872.
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Thursday 20 June 2013
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