Town council to spell out its demand on carving
ASHBOURNE Town Council says it is keen to see the controversial Black’s Head coming back to Ashbourne’s ownership – but only if they can afford its upkeep.
Councillors discussed the future of the carving - which was squirrelled away from its perch on the Green Man Gallows sign in the summer - during a virtual meeting last week, and they have now decided on a formal response to Derbyshire Dales District Council, which is storing it.
Ashbourne’s mayor Sean Clayton will address district councillors at a virtual meeting tomorrow evening, spelling out the town council’s position and demands.
Following a lengthy discussion on Tuesday, councillors discussed potential costs involved in taking back ownership of the head and gallows sign, which was gifted to the district council several years ago. And while the town council is keen to see it come back to Ashbourne, all councillors expressed concerns over what its upkeep would cost.
There was a suggestion the district council could be asked to pay for its renovation before a handover.
Members also expressed a keenness to put the decision over the head’s ultimate future to the town, by way of a referendum or a consultation. The cost of this, they surmised, might also be something the district council could also shoulder.
Initially, town councillors were anxious about what the costs of taking on the ownership of the grade Ii*-listed gallows and carving would be, particularly after recently getting cold feet over taking on responsibility of the market square because of potential costs and logistics.
But speaking over Zoom, at the full council meeting, Councillor Denise Brown set out to ease some concerns over the obligations the head and sign might bring along.
She said: “This can’t be as big a responsibility as crowds of people getting drunk in the Market Place.
“This is a piece of history that needs some renovation.
“It’s part of Ashbourne’s history and I think that this council cil would be very unpopu-lar if we didn’t dn’t make some me moves to get the head ret urned to Ashbourne, regardless of where we put it after ter we’ve got it. t.
“And I think that those people in Ashbourne will want that head returned, with the history behind it.
“Now, whether that’s back on the gallows, or whether it’s put in a heritage museum, I absolutely think that this council really needs to stick its neck on the line here for this.
“And it is a matter of the decision of the people that live in the DE6 postcode. It really should g go out to a referendum.”
Other councillors agreed that the t town should be making the decision of wha t happens next, discussing options such as a leaflet drop, or a town-wide consultation.
And this consultation, town councillors agreed, could be funded by the district council ahead of any handover.
“I really believe that, if it belongs to the town, it belongs to the town. And I think Derbyshire Dales District Council needs to make some recompense towards this,” said Councillor Caroline Cooper.
“If they want us to take that on, then they shouldn’t be expecting us, like the market place, to do it for nothing. They should be putting some money towards it.
“They’ve got the money in the coffers, they’re always wanting money off us, and it’s time they give something back to this town.”
The town council will now prepare an official statement, to be read out by the mayor, outlining its position, its reservations and its pleas for help with the costs ahead of tomorrow’s meeting.
Councillor Sue Bull, who also sits on the district council, summarised: “I think the consensus is that it should come back to Ashbourne and the council is willing to have this back because it’s part of Ashbourne’s heritage.
“But upon the understanding that a public consultation states that that’s what the public wishes to happen to it.
“Maybe looking to the fact that it could be preserved or repaired, if there is any need, by the district council, because it is in their ownership.
“I think we’ve got to make that approach to say we don’t want it at a financial cost to us.
“Yes, there will be an ongoing cost if it goes back on the gallows, and not necessarily if it goes in a museum.
“I think if we had a show of hands, we’d all want it back in Ashbourne.
“But we have to do it the right way.”
This can’t be as big a responsibility as crowds of people getting drunk in the market place.
Cllr Denise Brown