New Nottinghamshire WW1 memorial plans are 'utterly unnecessary'

The design which was chosen after an extensive design competition and public consultation plans to go into the Memorial Gardens on Nottingham's Victoria Embankment

The winning design, proposed by Letts Wheeler Architects, will display the names of the 14,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians at Victoria Embankment, incorporating a roll of honour for armed services fatalities from the whole of the county and will be the first of its kind. The monument is part of the 100 year centenary commemorations of the 1914 to 1918 First World War.

However, Friends of Victoria Embankment, have said it will ruin the Grade II listed Ornamental Gardens.

Writing on Twitter the group said: "Utterly unnecessary. Will ruin the delightful setting of these beautiful 'Intact' Grade II Listed Ornamental Gardens.

"Men's names already commemorated on Memorials throughout Notts. More benches with QR Codes linked to Online ROH is better alternative."

The memorial is being commissioned by Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, working with the seven district and borough councils, Gedling, Rushcliffe, Newark and Sherwood, Bassetlaw, Ashfield, Broxtowe and Mansfield.

Currently, there are hundreds of individual memorials to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s Great War fallen, scattered across the county and further afield in parks, workplaces, churches and other locations – but nowhere that brings together all of their names in one place.

Nottingham City Council said: "The online roll of honour shows that some of the 600+ memorials across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are missing names or inaccurate.

"It is right and respectful to bring all 14,000 names of the fallen together in one place to demonstrate the magnitude of their commitment and sacrifice during the First World War."