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Pals memorial plan presses ahead
The final location for a Chorley Pals memorial statue has been revealed.
After a public consultation, the trustees of the Chorley Pals Memorial have opted to site the statue on the Flat Iron.
Originally four sites were proposed, but during a month-long consultation with local people, the Flat Iron outside Booth's supermarket was supported by 70 per cent of respondents.
The area outside the magistrates court was supported by 19 per cent, whilst the junction of Market Street and St Thomas's Road received just 11 per cent.
The overwhelming choice of respondents mirrors the views of trustees, who always felt that the Flat Iron was the rightful 'home' for the memorial.
The Pals paraded there each Sunday from September 1914 through to February 1915, before going off to worship in local churches.
The Chorley soldiers were regularly inspected on the Flat Iron in late 1914 and early 1915, as well as on July 31, 1915 when they returned to the town from training at Caernarvon and Cannock Chase.
Importantly, the Flat Iron was the first choice of most of the Pals' relatives still living in the town.
Secretary and co-founder of the Pals Memorial, Steve Williams, has met with council officials to discuss the final position on the site of Chorley's traditional Tuesday market.
An announcement on the final position will be made in July following further meetings with Chorley Council.
Mr Williams said "It is not as simple as placing the statue just anywhere.
"Public access is important as well as CCTV coverage, services above and below ground, surrounding trees, street furniture, road signs and the like – all these have to be taken into consideration.
"What is important is that the statue will be at the heart of Chorley for everyone to see, not tucked away out of site in some unlit place."
As for progress with the actual statue, the full-sized model is nearing completion at the artist's studio in Preston.
The rifle has to be modelled and then the whole piece will be covered in wax and a mould made, ready to go to the foundry in Essex by the start of August.
The finished bronze piece should be cast in November, being delivered to Chorley by Christmas.
The plan is to unveil the statue on February 23, 2010 – the 95th anniversary of when the Pals left the town to go to war.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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