ASSURANCES SOUGHT OVER WAR MEMORIAL GRADE 2 LISTED STATUS

11.53.38am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Oct 2008

The War Memorial, the Fountain and the Pavilion on Torquay's harbour are Grade 2 Listed, according to information obtained by Liberal Democrat Councillor Steve Darling.

As a result of this information, the Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader has written this morning to the Elected Mayor seeking assurances that his Conservative administration will not ride roughshod over the Grade 2 Listed Status as they did on the Covenants on Torre Abbey Gardens.

His letter to the Mayor says:

"The debate that you have initiated in the local media about the removal of the War Memorial has proved very interesting.

Please can I draw your attention to the fact that three of the structures down on the harbour (the Fountain, the Pavilion and the War Memorial) are Grade Two Listed. Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the listing. As all three structures are council owned, any decision that affects their Listed status will rest with Government Office South West, and not the Council as you mentioned in your letter of 13th October.

How was the Grade 2 Listed status taken into account during the consultation on the Harbour side Action Plan that took place recently? Also, please can you tell me what approaches have been made to English Heritage regarding this matter?

Can you provide me with written assurances that you will not ride roughshod over the War Memorial's Grade 2 Listed Status, like you did over the covenants on Torre Abbey Gardens in order to get your balloon up."

Councillor Darling said, "The Grade 2 Listed Status puts a whole new light onto the situation. Government bodies such as Government Office South West and English Heritage will also have their say on any development plans in the area, and on any plans the Mayor has to move the War Memorial. The way the Mayor and his Conservative colleagues have gone about their plans for development have shown a shocking lack of detail which can only lead to problems. I look forward to receiving the Mayor's assurances in this matter."