I WAS present at the recent Bury West Local Area Partnership public meeting at Bolton Road Methodist Church.

Among the guest speakers were Major Edmund Gartside and Rosemary Allen who gave an account of the work in progress at the new, soon-to-be-opened, Fusilier Museum, Broad Street.

Up to that point their report was received with quiet appreciation. The then contentious issue of relocating the iconic Edwin Lutyens’ Lancashire Fusiliers Memorial from its Wellington Barracks site to Sparrow Park was met with a unanimous chorus of disbelief and anger that the Army could even consider such a crass, insensitive move without gaining the unanimous support of the citizens of Bury.

The top brass argue it will help the commercial viability of the new project if this relocation goes ahead, but fail to recognise the memorial statue is not a museum piece but a tribute to the men who experienced the hell and blood, the terror and slaughter, on the battlefields of the First World War. For all too many soldiers, Wellington Barracks would have been their last ‘home’ before going to war, and in many cases not returning.

Sir Edwin Lutyens (whose great architectural achievements included the Cenotaph in London and designing the streets of New Delhi) was so moved by the exploits and bravery of the Lancashire Fusiliers that he waived all fees for the design of the Wellington Barracks’ magnificent inspirational sculpture.

Over the years, ashes have been scattered and urns buried in the accompanying memorial garden, which has given comfort and solace to grieving family members who have been affected by the death of their loved one.

In Bury town centre we already have an established war memorial, with much military regalia displayed in the adjacent parish church.

I would hate the Wellington Barracks Memorial to be housed in Sparrow Park. Think of all drunken weekend revellers who make the Silver Street zone a no-go area, and I fear the sculpture would be targeted in all manner of irresponsible ways.

Imagine the furore if the MoD suggested the Whitehall Cenotaph should be moved to the Imperial War Museum.

Those brave soldiers fought for freedom and democracy against despots and tyrants, and it is the duty of the local ‘top brass’ to consult and gain the approval of the citizens of Bury (by a referendum if necessary), before even thinking of moving this local historical masterpiece.

Alan Fletcher Bury