Failure to display D-Day plaque at Poole 'absolutely disgraceful' (From Thisisdorset)

Failure to display D-Day plaque at Poole 'absolutely disgraceful'

7:00am Friday 31st July 2009

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SHAMEFUL – that’s the verdict on the failure to display Poole’s D-Day plaque for nine years as anniversaries and promises come and go.

Fred Winwood, the former Mayor who unveiled the colourful Poole Pottery plaque to commemorate the 50th anniversary in 1994 has described it as “absolutely disgraceful” that it is still not on show.

The recent deaths of First World War veterans Henry Allingham and Harry Patch, has led him to renew his lobbying for the plaque to be displayed on Dolphin Quays, as was a condition of planning permission.

“That really brought it to mind,” he said. “Is Poole going to wait until all the people who left Poole have passed away as well?”

Poole was a major embarkation port for the Normandy invasion in 1944 and surviving servicemen will be approaching or have passed 90 years of age.

“I find it shameful that a council that can devote time and money on promoting commercial use of public open space – two examples would be the Solar Pyramid and Poole Town FC – are failing in their duty to reinstate the D-Day plaque while a few of those honoured are still alive to visit it,” he said.

He contrasted the massive parade of veterans, Royal Marines and US Coastguards for the 50th anniversary with the 65th this year, when the plaque was wheeled out on a trolley for a short service then immediately disappeared.

The Society of Poole Men is also lobbying for the plaque’s return and a meeting between all parties last October even agreed where it would go on the front of the building.

Chairman and former serviceman Douglas Cook, who served in Coastal Command for 20 years said: “I suggested a deadline of June 6, 2009, and everyone agreed.”

As an ex-serviceman he said he would like to see the plaque back on the quay by November 11 this year. “I am confident it will be replaced,” he said. “I am not confident as to when it will be replaced.”

But Daniel Chapman, investment director of site owner Skelton Investment Properties said: “The council own it and hold it. If they want to deliver the D-Day plaque to me I will erect it. I have said that for the last three years.”

He said they had spent £150,000 restoring Poole Pottery murals and one was recently erected near the entrance, with others yet to be placed.

Stephen Thorne, the council’s new head of planning and regeneration, said he has been in touch with restorers at Ironbridge to work on the plaques, the smaller of which was cracked.

“There are some issues with the placement. I’m not happy with it,” he said.

He also said he understood the importance of the D-Day plaque and the other murals to Poole. “We are working on it,” he said.

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