War memorial refurbishment plans approved

The plans will see the "very tired and damaged" memorial enhanced and made more prominent

A war memorial can be restored to provide a fitting tribute to those who "gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom", a council has decided.

The community has battled for years to improve and enhance the Fulwell War Memorial in Sunderland.

The city's council has now given the green light to restoration plans which will see the "very tired and damaged" memorial enhanced and made more prominent.

Michael Hartnack, ward councillor and chair of the Friends of Fulwell War Memorial group, said the plans would create "an eye-catching and iconic centrepiece to commemorate the sacrifice of all those from Fulwell".

The memorial, off Chichester Road and close to the Seaburn Recreation Ground, was originally a shelter that was damaged in a fire in the 1970s.

It now consists of hexagonal seating in a low walled hexagonal area, with a bronze plaque with three columns of names at its heart.

Proposals approved by the council's planning department on 3 June will see it restored to incorporate a galvanised steel feature depicting poppies at its centre.

The seating area will be removed and the existing plaque fixed to a stone slab and mounted on a platform.

The new plans will feature a prominent poppy sculpture

Council planners said the proposals, designed by artist and sculptor Colin Wilbourn, would be acceptable in terms of their impact on residential amenity and ecology.

A decision report seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service said the changes would make the memorial more prominent in the surrounding landscape.

"It would provide a feature which would enhance the public realm and create a high-quality space, a distinctive identity and contribute to a sense of place," it said.

Mr Hartnack, who submitted the planning application on behalf of the Friends group, welcomed the planning permission and said fundraising would continue in an effort to raise the £50,000 needed to make the plans a reality.

He said: "Our chosen design, developed through much consultation with the public, is a mix of traditional and modern materials to create an eye-catching and iconic centrepiece to commemorate the sacrifice of all those from Fulwell and the surrounding area, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom."