Objections lodged against plans to move war memorial

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Objections lodged against plans to move war memorial in Wisbech

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Objections are being lodged against plans to move a war memorial from Wisbech’s former Post Office to a new sorting office.

The Post Office wants to move the marble plaque, which was put up to remember workers who had died in the First and Second World Wars, from its former branch in Bridge Street.

The firm is looking to place the plaque at its sorting office in Cromwell Court, Enterprise Way, Wisbech.

But Wisbech Society is against the move and would like to see the plaque remaining in its long-standing position.

Chairman of the society, Ray Johnson, said: “We can’t see any good reason why the war memorial should be separated from the Listed Building which is the former Post Office.

“It has been there since just after the First World War and is part of the building and the heritage of the town.

“This is a memorial to people who died.”

The Post Office moved out of the former branch, which is owned by Whitfield Estates, last year as part of a modernisation programme.

The site was cleared before the end of the lease.

Postal services are now provided a short distance away in the Etcetera store.

A heritage, planning and design statement listed with the application states: “Now that the property will no longer be occupied by The Post Office we feel the war memorial should not be situated in an environment to be occupied by potential future retail tenants.

“The war memorial would be better served in the nearby Royal Mail Delivery Office Callers Office – particularly as we regard the plaque as not being a fixture and fitting as part of the original building and architectural features.”

The application to move the memorial was lodged with Fenland District Council on Tuesday, February 24.