Press Release
London's war memorials must not be forgotten
6-7-2009 350
A London Assembly report today calls for more protection for the capital’s 6,000 war memorials to prevent their loss to neglect, theft or redevelopment.
‘Not forgotten: A review of London’s war memorials’1, by the London Assembly Planning and Housing Committee, concludes that the existing planning system does not offer sufficient protection to this unique aspect of London’s built heritage and local history.
The report highlights the risks faced by memorials, and identifies examples of memorials that have been destroyed, stolen, or just plain neglected2. It also recognises the efforts of heritage organisations and community groups that work to maintain and protect memorials.
The report calls on London boroughs to tighten planning policies to specifically cover the preservation of memorials. At the moment boroughs rely on generic policies relating to street furniture and heritage features that are not adequately protecting war memorials – and many boroughs do not even know where the memorials in their local area are.
The report highlights the work of the London Boroughs of Harrow, Bromley and Bexley as best practice3, and urges other boroughs to follow their example. These boroughs have established an inventory of their local memorials so proper consideration can be given to any planning application that effects a memorial.
Tony Arbour AM, who led the investigation on behalf of the Assembly’s Planning and Housing Committee, said: “The thousands of war memorials in the capital, of all shapes and sizes, are a real and tangible reminder of Londoners who gave their todays for our tomorrows.
“To preserve London’s remaining memorials, planning processes must be changed to reflect the unique protection these aspects of our built environment require, and applied carefully by the Mayor and the boroughs.
“Londoners too must be encouraged to take part in preserving the future of our memorials, so the sacrifices of the past will never be forgotten.”
With his role in strategic planning applications, the report notes that the Mayor must take war memorials into account, ensuring their protection and preservation are considered in applications referred to him – as well as encouraging boroughs to do the same. The Mayor’s revised London Plan should also specifically refer to war memorials.
The Mayor should also take a lead on encouraging Londoners themselves to get involved in caring for war memorials; the report found that the community is often the best custodian for memorials. The Mayor should specifically include war memorials in his culture strategy; ensure that war memorials feature as part of any future “Story of London” events; and encourage the Museum of London – which is jointly funded by the Mayor - to feature war memorials as part of its exhibitions and education programmes.
Joanna Sanderson, Conservation Officer at the War Memorials Trust said:
“War Memorials Trust is delighted that the London Assembly Planning and Housing Committee have looked at war memorials in London. The Trust supports the Committee’s recommendations that greater consideration should be given to war memorials by the Mayor and London Boroughs in relation to knowing where their memorials are and taking them into consideration during the planning process. As the main charity that works to protect and conserve war memorials in the UK, the Trust relies entirely on voluntary support to provide information about war memorials and grants towards their conservation. Through our work, we understand how often memorials are forgotten or neglected and all efforts to raise awareness of their importance and encourage better custodianship of them receives our support. Placing war memorials at the heart of planning matters will significantly increase the chances of ensuring the preservation of these touchstones to our national and community histories.”
Diane Lees, Chair of the UK National Inventory of War Memorials (UKNIWM)4 trustees and Director of the Imperial War Museum5 said:
"Since 1989 the UKNIWM archive and database at the Imperial War Museum, supported by nationwide voluntary effort, has aimed to preserve and nurture respect for the nation's war memorials. We very much welcome the London Assembly’s ‘Not Forgotten’ review. Strengthening the consideration of war memorials within the planning process will assist their long-term protection, as will the proposed cultural and learning initiatives. This applies especially to less visible but still important memorials like those located inside public and private buildings. We look forward to partnering those working to record and preserve a vital part of London's heritage and hope that the London Assembly’s initiatives and recommendations will also inspire schemes throughout the country."
Dr Cathy Ross, Director of Collections and Learning, Museum of London, said:
“War memorials are a testament to the extraordinary actions and bravery of ordinary Londoners, and are a moving and resonant part of the capital’s built environment. It is vital that we keep the memory of real London heroes and their sacrifices alive. Museum of London fully supports the findings of this report.”
Specific recommendations:
- Over the next two years boroughs should develop full inventories of war memorials which link to the planning register to trigger an alert when a planning proposal is received that would affect a memorial.
- The specific issue of War Memorials should be one that is covered within borough Local Development Frameworks and Development Plan Documents during their preparation, monitoring and review.
- The protection and preservation of London’s memorials should be a material consideration in borough planning policies. In the forthcoming review of the London Plan the Mayor should specifically refer to war memorials as relevant to London’s built heritage. When boroughs consult the Mayor on their Local Development Frameworks he should encourage local authorities to ensure their local planning policies recognise, protect and preserve memorials as they would any other valuable local heritage feature.
- The Mayor must ensure that the identification, protection and preservation of war memorials affected by any strategic planning application that is referred to him is one of the matters considered by officers as relevant to built heritage policies.
- The Mayor should specifically include war memorials in his culture strategy as part of London’s unique built environment.
- The Mayor should ensure that war memorials feature as part of any future “Story of London” events to promote the importance of the memorials as part of London’s heritage.
- The Mayor should encourage the Museum of London to feature war memorials as part of a future exhibition and to use memorials as part of its education programme aimed at children and communities.
Notes to Editors
1. The report: ‘Not forgotten: A review of London’s war memorials’ is available at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/plansd.jsp#memorial-review
2. See pages 14, 19, 21.
3. See pages 22-23 for details.
4. UKNIWM: Established in 1989, the UKNIWM, based at the Imperial War Museum, has compiled a comprehensive record of war memorials in the UK, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands in order to ensure that the memory of the war dead is remembered. The project covers every type of memorial, from the frequently seen community crosses, to less obvious memorials such as gardens or hospitals. Most memorials relate to the First World War but other memorials cover the periods from the 7th century to the present day. Of the 62,000 memorials recorded so far, details of over 58,000 memorials are available online at www.ukniwm.org.uk. The website contains a wealth of information which will be invaluable to a wide range of researchers, pursuing the history of art or social history, military history and genealogy.
5. IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM: The national museum of the experiences of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since 1914.The Imperial War Museum is the museum of everyone’s story: the history of modern conflict told through the stories of those who were there. It is an educational and historical institution responsible for archives, collections and sites of outstanding national importance.The Museum’s five branches are Imperial War Museum London, Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast, Imperial War Museum Duxford, and Imperial War Museum North. www.iwm.org.uk
6. The report will be considered for formal agreement at a Planning and Housing Committee hearing on 14 July 2009.
7. Tony Arbour AM, who led the investigation on behalf of the Planning and Housing Committee, is available for interview. See contact details below.
8. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more details, please contact Dana Gavin in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 4603/4283. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, Greater London Authority, on 020 7983 4100.
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