Design bids sought for memorial

Published on Friday 10 October 2008 10:25

A MEMORIAL to commemorate the city's fallen war heroes will cost up to £500,000 and take up to two years to complete, city leaders revealed today.

The city council has issued a design tender notice for a memorial in West Princes Street Gardens to recognise individuals from the Capital who won bravery awards in war.

The memorial will be spread across different plots between the three shelters on the upper level of the gardens, and funding for the project is likely to come from the council, as well as a public appeal.

Among the first names on the Princes Street memorial would be Corporal Mark Wright, who was killed by a mine in Afghanistan last year.

The 27-year-old was awarded the George Cross after carrying out a mission to rescue his comrades.

City leaders are also planning a second memorial for all the city's war dead on land between Greendykes and Edmonstone, which would be along the lines of the National Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Progress on the memorial was today welcomed by veterans' groups and politicians.

Neil Griffiths, spokesman for Royal British Legion Scotland, said: "This is great news, and it will be an apt memorial to the enormous number of extraordinarily brave individuals who came from this city and set an example to the world.

"It is high time these figures receive recognition and this seems to be a good way to do it. This initiative has our full support."

The Princes Street memorial is likely to be based on a number of gardens of remembrance in Australian cities. Among the names expected to feature are the 30 soldiers from around the Edinburgh area who have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

City leader Jenny Dawe said: "I was delighted when the council agreed to commission and build a new memorial to those who have lost their lives in battle.

"I am very hopeful that the design will display flair, imagination and sensitivity, and will be a fitting tribute to all those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice."

Council chiefs are planning to set up a committee to start the process of raising funds for the memorial.

A further update on the progress for the war memorials is expected next month to tie in with this year's Armistice Day.

Fountainbridge and Craiglockhart councillor Gordon Buchan, who called for the war memorials in council motions last year along with Southside and Newington councillor Ian Perry, said: "I certainly welcome the progress that is being made on this.

"It is a project that the whole city is behind, and I would hope that it will be a fitting memorial to the selflessness of the people it will be commemorating."