Anger over state of former Ormskirk war memorial site leads to apology from West Lancs council-appointed contractors

Oct 18 2012 by Rob Pattinson, Ormskirk Advertiser

COUNCIL-appointed contractors have apologised after wreaths laid in memory of fallen soldiers were left strewn over the former war memorial site at the Comrades Club.

The state of the site was exposed after work was undertaken to move the memorial to its new home in Coronation Park ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper wrote to the council to express her “horror” at the state the site was left in and branded it disgraceful. Ms Cooper said she was passing the site only to find wreaths strewn over the site and loose bricks left lying around.

She said: “What I found is an utter disgrace. Is it too much to ask, that when the war memorial was being moved, that those wreaths be collected up and moved as well? A little thought, care and respect doesn’t cost anybody anything.

“I’ve written to West Lancashire Borough Council to express my horror over the site which has been left in this state with wreaths abandoned, loose bricks and the gates left open. In a month’s time residents from across West Lancashire will once again attend church services, march through the streets and lay their wreaths in an act of remembrance.

“We remember those brave men and women who gave their lives in the service of our county. They gave their lives to protect us. “Perhaps those individuals who couldn’t be bothered to pick up those wreaths should give a little more thought to their lack of action.

“This is even more poignant as the Prime Minister encourages everyone to remember the 100 year anniversary since the First World War.”

A council spokesman said: “The specialist contractor employed by [the council] to relocate the War Memorial has given a full apology for this incident.

“The company has arranged for a donation to be made to the Royal British Legion as a token of apology in acknowledgement of the distress caused by not removing the wreaths prior to taking the memorial from the site. The council was deeply saddened to see the photographs which were taken and took immediate action to recover the wreaths and tidy the area.

“The site of the War Memorial at Southport Road will be appropriately screened shortly.”