The war memorial at the former Cooper Tires site has finally been relocated following a public outcry over the condition in which it had been left.
The memorial, a bronze book engraved with the names of Avon employees who died fighting in World War I and World War II, had been left in a ‘disgusting’ state, prompting calls for urgent action.
In January, Melksham Town Council agreed to move the memorial from the Cooper Tires site following the factory’s closure and planned to place it into storage before deciding on a permanent location. However, the
memorial remained at the site, and the counci
l began preparing for its relocation in April, though complications caused further delays.
A spokesperson for the town council said, “When contractors attempted to remove the memorial from the ground, it was embedded with a more substantial base than was expected. There were
then delays in securing the appropriate removal licence and co-ordinating a date for the relocation.”
Meanwhile, residents complained about the state of the memorial, which had been uprooted. One said, “It is absolutely disgusting to see this in this state.”
Following complaints, the town council arranged for the memorial to be moved on 19th September to Queen Mary Garden, close to the Riverside Centre, while the council decides on a permanent location.
A spokesperson for the council said, “Melksham Town Council apologises for the delay and for any distress caused in this process.”
