A PASSIONATE heritage champion claims he was side-lined after being asked to oversee the restoration of an historic Saddleworth war memorial.
OMBC and parish councillor Mike Buckley says he has never been consulted over the memorial at St Chad’s Gardens, Uppermill, and believes some new work at the site ‘totally inappropriate.’
The memorial was damaged two years ago, causing anger among locals, after repainting lettering and a subsequent attempt to remove excess paint resulted in serious erosion to the inscription, see picture.
And concerns have recently been raised by Saddleworth Parish Council as when the work would be completed with officers from OMBC pledged to rectify the damage.
But frustrated councillor Buckley said: “I was asked by an OMBC cabinet member to oversee the work and, despite several reminders to council officers, this has never happened.
“I am unhappy with the lack of consultation and the way the project has been handled. 
“New stonework surrounding the monument is totally inappropriate. Yorkshire stone should have been used to match the stone of the monument – the grey stone adopted is totally wrong and looks quite incongruous.”
And he says he is ‘disappointed’ plans agreed at the Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership meeting in November last year – which he could not attend – were not circulated to councillors in advance but were presented at the meeting without time for a considered response on the part of the members.
“I stick by my assertions approving work in this way was a breach of process and maladministration on the part of OMBC. This work should have been submitted for scrutiny through the normal planning process.”
Cllr Buckley added: “The present state of the monument with green lichen, and moss is a legacy of the ill-advised cleaning that took place a number of years ago.
“Expert opinion should have been sought at the outset of the programme and advice obtained from the borough’s Conservation Officer and English Heritage before work started.
“In the present context it needs to be carried out very carefully and after expert advice. The memorial is an important historic and cultural monument, it’s in a conservation area and also affects the setting of Uppermill Library, a Grade II listed building.”
However, Barbara Bealey, chair of Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership, said plans for the war memorial and its surroundings were discussed and unanimously agreed in November.
“A link to that agenda is sent out to all members of the Partnership seven days before the meeting,” she said. “If a member cannot attend they then have seven days in which to send comments to me. In this case no comments were received.
“The work to improve the memorial and its surroundings has stopped at the moment because of the wintry weather and the delay in a delivery of some specialist materials.
“Once the work on the surrounding area is finished the lettering and the surface of the memorial will then be restored by an expert stone mason whom I know from personal experience, will do an excellent job.”
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