Council reassurance over Bishop’s Stortford war memorial repairs ahead of Remembrance Sunday

Repairs to Bishop's Stortford's war memorial are set to be completed by Remembrance Sunday on November 12.

Concerns about the state of the town's monument in Castle Gardens to the fallen of both world wars have been expressed by Mark Greatbatch, the founder of Bishop’s Stortford Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club.

He posted a video on Bishop's Stortford Community's Facebook page to show how the once "pristine" area had deteriorated during the £3.5m Castle Park project and it now looked like "nobody cares" about the memorial.

He was anxious about the landscaping of the area and crumbling masonry on the base of the stone obelisk that is inscribed with the names of 208 men who were killed or missing in the Great War and 106 lost in the Second World War.

An East Herts Council spokeswoman told the Indie: “We are working towards addressing the repairs required for the steps at the base of the memorial ahead of Remembrance Day.

“The mounds of earth on-site are a mandatory aspect of our planning permission, serving to manage surface water flow during heavy rainfall.

“As we complete the soft landscaping around the memorial later this year, these mounds will become less visible.

“We have scheduled the soft landscaping work to take place after Remembrance Day to avoid any disruption to the event.

“Furthermore, we have reseeded the grass areas following the completion of hard landscaping. Unfortunately, some sections have not thrived as expected, so we have scheduled reseeding in the upcoming autumn season. The grass area will be regularly maintained, including before Remembrance Day, to ensure it remains tidy.”

She also addressed concerns about the Causeway loop channel, often referred to as “the moat”.

She said: “Over the years, various factors have influenced the water flow in this area, including removal of the weir at the Causeway and regulations from the Environment Agency regarding water extraction from the River Stort.

“Currently, the equipment responsible for pumping water through the ditch has been temporarily turned off while we developed the new Markwell Studio.

“Our contractors are in the process of installing a new cable to the pump, which will help to retain the appearance of water in the raised section.

“In addition to reviving the water flow, vegetation typical of watercourses will be planted and graded into a display of wildflowers in front of the new studio, creating a more attractive channel that supports wildlife.

“These carefully selected plants are well suited to the environment and will enhance the landscape, providing a natural and attractive look to the ditch, regardless of the water level.

“While construction is ongoing, we understand that certain areas of the park’s appearance may be compromised. We greatly appreciate residents’ understanding during this transitional phase.

“We would like to assure everyone that the inconveniences will be short-lived, and the end result will be a vastly improved, greener, more attractive and better-connected park for all to enjoy for generations to come.”