Carmarthen’s MP Simon Hart has taken up a challenge from a war veteran to try to get the County War Memorial in the town restored.
A former member of the Royal Horse Artillery who lives in Carmarthen wrote to Mr Hart to highlight concerns that the memorial on Priory Street was looking dirty and neglected.
“Each Armistice Day I attend the service at the war memorial and ask if there is some hope of having the sculpture thoroughly cleaned,” wrote the veteran. “Each year goes by and nothing is done.”
Mr Hart contacted the town council who confirmed that they look after five memorials in the town and tidy all of them up as best they can every November, however the statue is owned by Carmarthenshire County Council.
“As this year marks the centenary of the outbreak of World War One it would be particularly fitting to get the statue restored,” said Mr Hart. “I know that there are special funds out there this year aimed at exactly this sort of work so hopefully we can tap into one of those.”
The memorial commemorates the 1,913 men and women from Carmarthenshire who fell in the Great War and it also has epitaphs to those who died in World War Two and the Korean War.
It was made by the eminent Welsh sculptor Sir William Goscombe John and unveiled in 1924.
Carmarthenshire County Council has confirmed that it is happy for Mr Hart to investigate sources of funding.
“It’s unlikely we are going to be able to get anything done in time for Armistice Day this year,” added Mr Hart. “But it would be wonderful to restore it to its former glory for years to come.”
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PIC CAP: Simon Hart MP is pictured at the Carmarthenshire County War Memorial on Priory Street.