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Councillor condemns Bishop’s Stortford History Society’s blue plaque plan as ‘waste of money’




A Bishop’s Stortford town councillor called for a blue plaque scheme to celebrate notable residents to be “binned”.

Labour’s Cllr Alex Chapman spoke out at a meeting of the Brazier Trust, where members considered a £3,000 grant request from Bishop’s Stortford History Society.

The money would help pay for the manufacture and installation of 10 plaques over the next two years.

Cllr Alex Chapman
Cllr Alex Chapman

The history society told the town councillors – who sit as Brazier trustees – the programme was part of its plans to celebrate the organisation’s 70th anniversary.

It says it has come up with a provisional list of names and has been informally advised by Stortford resident and architectural historian Emily Cole, who works for Historic England.

The grant application says: “The proposal is to place the plaques on suitable locations at a height at which the plaque is legible but high enough not to be tampered with.

The former Lemon Tree in Water Lane was Michael Hurford’s favourite restaurant and a blue plaque on the building commemorates the late president of Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation
The former Lemon Tree in Water Lane was Michael Hurford’s favourite restaurant and a blue plaque on the building commemorates the late president of Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation

“The provisional list has been prepared to be as diverse as possible within the confines of historical cultures. We propose to open up the list to public consultation.

“After finalising the list, we would gain consent from the owners of the proposed locations – mostly council-owned but some private. There may be costs involved in this process.”

The society says it wants to work in partnership with the town council, Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation and the town’s museum on the project.

“We will provide background information on the chosen figures and their locations on our websites and aim to publish a small leaflet as a trail guide in the style of the present successful Heritage Trails published by Bishop’s Stortford Town Council.”

The blue plaque that commemorates former Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation president Michael Hurford
The blue plaque that commemorates former Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation president Michael Hurford

The society’s application suggested that ultimately the scheme would cost £6,872.

Cllr Chapman said: “I suggest we just bin this. Where are they getting 10 names from?”

He said £3,000 for the project was a “waste of money” and proposed the application be rejected.

He was backed by Conservative Cllr John Wyllie, but they failed to persuade a majority of their colleagues. Instead, the decision was deferred pending further information from the society.

Cllr Wyllie was concerned about the intention to use council buildings rather than former homes for some of the commemorations.

He said: “The whole point of a blue plaque is that someone important lived there.”

Cllr Miriam Swainston, the council’s Liberal Democrat leader, said it was important to see the list of names before approving the grant.

Labour’s Cllr David Jacobs was concerned about the council also being asked to sign a “blank cheque” for ongoing maintenance of the signs.

The history society will be able to plead its case further when the Brazier Trust next meets in December.



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