WW1 dead are being “failed”

Cllr Joan Baird was speaking at last Monday’s meeting in Moyle District Council when members heard that no companies had applied to carry out refurbishment work of the white Italian marble memorial.

Years of weathering has eaten away the edges of the obelisk and many of the inscriptions are no longer legible.

Moyle District Council’s Director of Environmental Services, Aidan McPeak, told members that work to repair the War Memorial includes installing new grey granite cladding to the sides of the obelisk and the date plinths as well as adding new inscriptions and marble work.

Councillors were told that another tender will have to be put out, giving a longer duration for the work time - this, however, meant that the work would not be completed in time for annual Remembrance Sunday events in November.

Cllr Baird said it was “very disappointing” especially in the centenary year of the beginning of World War 1.

“So many people from this area gave their lives and we are now in a sense failing them because we don’t have the War Memorial in order.

“And I hope this will be expedited as quickly as possible.”