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Plans to conduct emergency repairs to Birkenhead War Memorial have been submitted after a survey revealed multiple safety hazards present at the memorial.
The Grade II* listed structure, known as the Birkenhead Cenotaph in Hamilton Square, was unveiled in 1925 to honour those who lost their lives in the First World War.
The memorial, which features large panels engraved with the names of 1,293 locals, is used for annual remembrance events each November.
According to Birkenhead News, a survey of the monument found extensive cracking, with birds nesting and vegetation growth contributing to the damage. Planning documents have warned that repair is necessary to ensure the engraved panels don't detach from the structure.
The submitted plans state the site "presents multiple safety hazards, including loose paving, deteriorating steps, and unstable stone elements that pose a trip and falling risk to visitors."
Plans seek to repair the cracks in the stone, replace damaged paving, remove vegetation and clean stone surfaces. The application also seeks permission to restore the memorial's wider footprint, including the surrounding paving and walls.
The planning documents say that work has been designed to work with a conservation-led approach to preserve the memorial's structure.
They note that "previous mismatched or temporary repairs are contributing to visual inconsistency and may be ineffective in the long term".
The memorial is a prominent part of Hamilton Square, standing opposite Birkenhead Town Hall. Lieutenant-General Sir Richard H. K. Butler unveiled the memorial, and 20,000 people attended the unveiling ceremony.
