'Memorial must stay on consecrated site' - Burma Star

campaigner

WIRRAL war veteran Clifford White is waging a lone campaign to prevent his ex-Service organisation's war memorial plaque from being re-sited in Birkenhead's proposed £2 million new-look Hamilton Square.

Mr White, secretary of the Wirral Branch of the Burma Star Association, fears that the plaque, dedicated eight years ago and sited in the lawns on the Town Hall side of the historic Square, will be moved to a new location along with those of other ex-Service organisations.

But Lindsay Price, Project Manager of the Hamilton Quarter, which has announced its draft plan to transform Hamilton Square for the Millennium, insists that no decision has yet been taken - and that proper consultation would take place.

But she conceded that the general feeling is that the individual memorial plaques should be moved to a site by the main War Memorial, which would stay where it is.

"We had a preliminary meeting with the various associations, and which Mr White attended, about the overall scheme," she added. "Only Mr White spoke out against . . . he's quite dogmatic about it."

Mr White, who says he was "saddened and surprised" that the other ex-service organisations went along with the suggestion, is sticking to his guns.

"It would be sacrilege to move the plaque - such an act would be defiling the memory of my colleagues who died in Burma," he said.

And added: "Wirral Leisure Services Committee, who were responsible for Hamilton Square at the time, gave us permission eight years ago for the plaque.

"The Rural Dean took the service and, to my mind, the plaque is on consecrated ground."

Lindsay Price said further consultation was planned. "We expect to have the proposed design completed for consultation next month," she explained. "There will be two or three months for consultation to take place."

She added: "Mr White has raised a number of interesting concerns - including fears that the plaques would be more vulnerable to vandalism in the new location. These are issues we would attempt to address if they are put to us."

Lindsay revealed, however, that the whole Hamilton Square scheme is dependent on a 50 per cent grant - about £1 million - being forthcoming from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

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