Border Telegraph | News | State of war memorial causes a flap

Monday, 6th October, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 9th July, 2008 09:00

State of war memorial causes a flap

By Ally McGilvray

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CONCERNS have been raised over the state of the war memorial in Galashiels.

Angry resident Malcolm Thin spoke out about the state of the monument at the Burgh Chambers following the annual Braw Lads’ Gathering last month.

He claimed the statue of the mounted Border Reiver at its centrepiece has been neglected and is covered in bird droppings.

However, Scottish Borders Council, which is responsible for maintaining the war memorial, blamed pigeons for the mess and insisted the town has never been cleaner.

In a letter to the Border Telegraph this week, Mr Thin says: “Seeing what is the Borders’ most recognisable sculpture encrusted with bird droppings and turning blue due to lack of maintenance fills me with sadness every year.

“The Gala Day perhaps does not share the ancient history of our neighbouring towns Common Ridings but what we do have is special to the townsfolk and the many visitors who always make for a memorable day - surely the symbols of the town deserve to be shown at their best?

“Unfortunately, in the case of our Reiver, the neglect is such that to restore it to it’s deserved glory will take far more than a rub with some Duraglit and so will no doubt fall foul of cost-cutting.”

Hundreds of well-wishers turned out at a poignant ceremony to remember the town’s fallen at the end of the Gala Week in June.

The war memorial was built to remember the 635 men from Galashiels who were killed during the First World War - a large proportion of the town’s pre-war population of 14,500.

A local authority spokesperson said: “Council staff worked very hard to ensure that Galashiels was looking its best for Gala Week – as we do every year.

“On Monday of the Gala Week, the route that the horses take to Lindean Kirk was given an additional clean; on Wednesday night, Scott Street and the main paths in Scott Park were swept in preparation for the fancy dress parade and, on Gala Day, additional sweeping and litter-picking took place on the routes used by the horses in the town.

“In addition to this extra street cleaning, staff were also working on the floral displays in Bank Street Gardens to make sure they were looking their blooming best. Council staff also prepared special displays for the staging area at the Old Town Cross and we have just received a letter of appreciation for this from the Braw Lads’ Committee.

“The war memorial and fountain were also thoroughly cleaned in the run up to and during Gala Week. It is unfortunate that the pigeon population in Gala does not appear to have respected this – but Council staff did their absolute best to have the memorial looking as clean as possible.

“In the aftermath of the celebrations, the fountain was cleaned again and objects, including a shopping trolley, removed.

“The Council always has and will continue to support Gala Week by carrying out these extra works.”

allymcgilvray@bordertelegraph.com

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