War memorial damaged as buses keep mounting the pavement

The war memorial, opposite the Market House in High Street, had only recently undergone a £30,000 refurbishment, but fresh concerns over the state of the stone monument and the surrounding area have been raised.

Clerk Angela Price told councillors she was looking into options of "protecting the war memorial on the roadside" as buses keep "mounting the pavement".

Councillor Andrew Manns said that as a result, cracks have appeared in the memorial which was built after the First World War.

The remote meeting on February 4 also explored the possibility of bollards to prevent this from happening.

Councillors during the meeting on Thursday evening. Picture: Ledbury Town Council

Newcomer Stephen Chowns, who was in his first full meeting as a councillor, said: "Can I just ask if it's intended when the work is done that some sort of bollard post would be put up to prevent bus drivers thinking they can drive over it?"

Mrs Price replied: "It is an option that's being considered. You don't need listed building consent to do that because there is no curtilage to the memorial.

"The paving area and roadside doesn't come under the listed building element, but you would probably require planning permission."

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Councillor Elizabeth Harvey, who represents the Ledbury North ward on Herefordshire Council, said: "There is a myriad of rules to do with putting things adjacent to the highway which impacts on whether can get bollards or something like that put between the war memorial and the kerb.

"Just because there's not a lot of spaces, that's why the memorial seems to be being damaged.

"It's frustrating that it seems to be getting more damage now that is has previously.

"I don't know what the problem is; whether there are new buses and they've got bigger overhangs at the front and back or whatever, but it's certainly an issue.

"The problem is maybe that we can't put anything that is protective because there just isn't enough space, it would interfere with the memorial itself.

"I think working with the highways team to see what can be done, and the conservation officers can advise without having to go through formal consultation, so hopefully we can try and find a resolution to it."

Councillor Nick Morris added: "It's a terrible shame that the war memorial is in such a state, there's green growing on the pillars at the side of it."

The town council said it would continue to look into repairs, its options with memorials, as well as speaking to bus companies which operate services to and from the town.