MEMBERS of Knutsford and District War Memorial Neighbourhood Forum attended Cheshire East’s full council meeting to present a petition of 4,248 signatures, objecting to the sale and proposed demolition of our War Memorial.

I believe there is a great agreement across this area, that the War Memorial must be kept safe for community use.

British Red Cross has been attempting to sell our only community war memorial for more than two years.

More recently, the threat is not only of sale, but of demolition, should McCarthy & Stone have its way. Yet this is a very valuable asset to this community, bridging the gap from what might be termed ‘Cranford’ history, and into the modern day.

It is the best possible example of ‘community spirit in adversity’, showing how effective this whole community can be when everyone works together for one community aim.

I have a copy of the original fundraising letter, sent out by the original fundraising committee and dated April 1919. That letter makes it very clear that the land was given only for the primary purpose of building a War Memorial for Knutsford and District; with a secondary purpose that the War Memorial should be in the form of a cottage hospital.

I believe the war memorial belongs to residents who have always paid their respects to their own war dead at Remembrance parades and as individuals, throughout the decades.

Knutsford and District War Memorial Neighbourhood Forum is the natural inheritor and has the aim to take back our community property into a suitable Community Trust, run by and for this community.

We are looking for your help.

There are 167 comments objecting to sale and demolition on Cheshire East planning portal, with only three which state that they are in favour of.

It makes an interesting read.

Charlotte Peters Rock Knutsford