Suggestions roll in for Rest Room replacement and Covid memorial
SUGGESTIONS have started arriving for what could become a replacement for the Elderly Persons’ Rest Room in St John Street.
The crumbling wooden structure is due to be demolished by its owner, Ashbourne Town Council, and last week councillors started discussing what it should be replaced with.
Among the ideas bandied about was a plan to develop some sort of lasting memorial to those who have lost their lives to Covid-19, along with a tribute to frontline workers.
At their recent virtual meeting, town councillors decided to ask the public for their thoughts on what should replace the structure and the News Telegraph has been monitoring comments from our readers, while the town council gathers responses.
The call for suggestions has prompted a large reaction on the News Telegraph’s Facebook page, and most of the people who commented have called for the Shrovetide “Hug” sculpture to be moved to St John Street from its current base in Mayfield Road.
Unveiled in 2008 and gifted to the town by the developers of the former Nestle site, which became Waterside Park, local discussion regularly comes back to the sculpture’s current position at one end of Carnation Way, as people feel it should be more prominent.
Among those calling for it to be moved to the soon-to-be vacant plot in St John Street was Clive Avery, who said on Facebook: “Often wondered, if Ashbourne is so proud of Shrovetide why did they hide it just off a roundabout hidden behind bushes?
“Would make sense to move it into town somewhere, after all we need something in town to draw in tourists!”
And Simon Gilmartin said:
“Moving the Shrovetide statue seems to be by far the easiest and cheapest option. Perhaps some seating and or information boards about the game around it.”
However, the News Telegraph understands the statue is too weak to survive being detached from its current plinth and moved to a new one.
We spoke to the Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Committee who supported this theory.
A spokesman told us: “The Shrovetide statue isn’t owned by the committee nor do we have any responsibility for its maintenance or potential move to another site. “We are aware that the upper part of the statue is possibly very fragile and could be badly damaged if moved.”
Other suggestions have been made by our social media followers.
Gemma Kelly suggested the shelter could be used as a free library, for swapping and donating books.
And Su Woodcock said: “How about more public seating with a roof over to match that beautiful millennium clock?
“The old people use that crusty old bench with tipped flagstones all the time, and it would be lovely for people to have somewhere to shelter from the rain. There could be plenty of room inside to put memorial plaques, and maybe a bit of the local history,” she added.
And Jessica Batterby said: “Seating and raised flower beds to brighten the place up. Perhaps a clear shelter like the bus one on Shaw Croft.”
Other suggestions included planting the area with herbs and insect-friendly plants, a mother-and-baby changing room, the Black’s Head, and a picnic area.
Moving the Shrovetide statue seems to be by far the easiest and cheapest option.
Simon Gilmartin