Ashfield District Council to launch public consultation on "people's memorial" to COVID-19 NHS workers

The new COVID-19 response and recovery scrutiny committee will meet for the first time on Thursday, July 30, and the memorial will be top of its agenda.

Chairman David Hennigan said: “I am pleased that the council have already instructed us to start the process of erecting a permanent memorial to our local NHS workers.

"Our NHS staff put their lives in danger and it is only right and proper that we find a permanent way to remember to those who gave so much.”

He added: “It is the council’s unanimous view that any memorial should be decided by the people. The people whose lives were saved, the people who were reassured during the crisis by our wonderful NHS and the people who clapped every week for our amazing NHS.

"It’s not up to council members what this will look like – it’s up to the people.”

The memorial will also recognise the residents of the district who lost their lives to coronavirus and their families.

No location for the memorial has been specified yet, nor what form it will take, so there is a chance it could become a new landmark for Hucknall.

Councillor Jim Blagden, who represents the central ward and is vice-chair of the committee, said: “Our committee will liaise with schools, community groups and residents across the district.

"Over the decades to come, we want something that commemorates the work and dedication that our NHS staff and care workers put in.”

Reflecting on his own experiences over 29 years with the St John’s Ambulance, Coun Blagden added: “In a small way, I know some of the pressures that our care workers face.

"To be on the front line in any care profession is challenging in normal circumstances. I can’t imagine what it was like working during COVID-19.”

The committee will also be reviewing the council’s actions during the pandemic to identify possible areas for improvement, and will be contributing to the authority’s economic recovery plans.