KNUTSFORD’S tribute to its war dead could be illuminated during the evening.
The town council is looking at the cost of lighting to illuminate the Centennial War Memorial in Toft Road, which was unveiled in October 2018.

The memorial brought together all the names of the fallen from the town in one memorial, and incorporates the statue of Haron Baronian.

Cllr Christopher Gray called for the memorial to be illuminated at Monday’s town council Assets and Operations Committee, which was held via Zoom.

He said: “I walk past the memorial in the dark most nights of the week, and wonder why it [illuminating the memorial] has not been done already.

“I understand it’s probably connected to the town council offices being done up, which may take place, but I think it’s [lighting the memorial] essential that it’s done, irrespective of the town council offices, if it’s at all possible, because these men died to save us, and we don’t even illuminate the statue. 

“For half the year it can’t be seen in the evening; it’s a poor do.”

Cllr Peter Coan supported Cllr Gray’s suggestion, and asked town clerk Adam Keppel-Green to look at whether the uplighter floodlights in the memorial garden could be adapted to light up the war memorial.

He said that would be cost very little, and would create a ‘fantastic effect’ in illuminating the memorial during the evening.

Cllr James McCulloch suggested the possibility of also illuminating the war memorial opposite St Cross Church and the Parachute Regiment war memorial in Tatton Park, as well as the obelisk in Chelford Road.

He acknowledged the Parachute Regiment memorial was on National Trust land, and illumination would need to be done sensitively.

The obelisk is a Grade II listed structure dating from 1745, and is on the edge of the Legh Road Conservation Area. The committee agreed to spend £250 on tree works at the obelisk site.