The contractors behind the “unsatisfactory” restoration of Ledbury’s war memorial two years ago have offered compensation to the town council.

Repairs took place in 2020 following a £30,000 donation from former Lancaster bomber Stuart Heaton, but cracks and green mould soon started to appear.

Residents have been unhappy about the time it has taken to fix the problems, with some even campaigning outside the Weobley premises of contractors The Stone Workshop in January.

Legal wranglings have been taking place between Ledbury Town Council’s solicitors and those of The Stone Workshop - with the council saying it wanted the contractors to “make good the unsatisfactory repairs”.

Ledbury Reporter: Ledbury war memorial has been the subject of intense debate since a restoration in 2020Ledbury war memorial has been the subject of intense debate since a restoration in 2020

The council also said a month ago that fresh repairs would take place as soon as possible “irrespective of the outcome of the legal dialogue”.

At an extraordinary town council meeting on March 14, the council was asked to review an offer of compensation from The Stone Workshop in respect of the work carried out to the war memorial in 2020.

In a statement, Ledbury Town Council said its solicitors had been instructed to respond to the offer “requesting additional information in relation to the offer”.

Technical advisors

“Following receipt of that information and confirmation of whether the council are minded to agree to the proposal, subject to caveats, a further update will be provided to members of the public.

“In the meantime, the council are working with technical advisers and conservation officers in respect of undertaking the repairs needed to ensure the war memorial is returned to an acceptable state as soon as practicable.”

Steve Ellis, an experienced construction site manager, prepared unofficial reports on the state of the memorial for the town council in October 2020 and April 2021, and helped organise the Weobley protest in January.

Ledbury Reporter: Ledbury war memorial campaigners held a protest in Weobley in JanuaryLedbury war memorial campaigners held a protest in Weobley in January

He told the Ledbury Reporter: “It saddens me to see the state they have allowed the memorial to get into.

“I have a family member mentioned on the monument. It's all wrong. In my opinion, if the work had gone to a specialist conservation contractor like the ones recommended on The War Memorial Trust website, this mess would not have happened.”