Hastings Conservatives ask council to promise no statues will be removed

The open letter, written by councillor Rob Lee, comes after a number of protests and monuments in London were targeted during anti-racism protests.

In Bristol, a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and thrown into the water.

On Thursday (June 11), councillor Lee wrote an open letter to the leader of Hastings Borough Council councillor Kim Forward to ask whether she would promise there would be no removal of statues in Hastings or St Leonards.

Councillor Lee wrote: “I am sure you have watched with interest the events of the last two weeks in relation to public statues and their meaning to modern society.

“Hastings and St Leonards has a collection of public art, statues, monuments and buildings of which we can be rightly proud. From the ruins of St Mary’s Chapel on Bexleigh Avenue to the Net Shops of Rock-a-Nore, our borough is blessed with many interesting and beautiful artefacts that tell the story of Hastings and St Leonards and the people that have lived here.

“There appears to be enthusiasm from some members of the public for the removal of figures that are controversial. A quick review of our towns statues, memorials, plaques and buildings reveals little that would provoke controversy even by modern standards. However, I would like to ask you to reassure the public and to speak out defending our town’s heritage and to promise that there will be no removal of statues, plaques, monuments or renaming of buildings or roads locally.

“As there appears to be renewed interest in monumental architecture, I would also like to request that we explore further our options to restore and preserve our physical heritage locally. As you know the statue in Grosvenor Gardens of Harold and Edith is in a poor state and anything we can do to save it must be explored and the same applies to the statue of Queen Anne at Holmhurst St Mary. It has now been ten years since the last review of statues, monuments and memorials in the borough. Please could a new review be undertaken as the first step in ensuring our heritage is safe for future generations.”

In response to councillor Lee’s open letter, a spokesman for Hastings Borough Council said: “We will listen to and work with the local community to review the appropriateness of local monuments and statues on public land and council property.”