Member

If the memorial is built, it will damage the ability to get planning permission for R&R and may require further amendment of the 1900 Act. It will restrict the ability of the restoration and renewal people to use the gardens as they might wish, including for the early work of building a jetty and the tunnels. If both projects are undertaken, there will be no gardens left, and the atmosphere that might be conducive to a memorial will be destroyed. There will also be an impact on Millbank traffic, with buses transporting visitors to the memorial potentially conflicting with building works lorries, even before R&R gets properly under way. We have had no indication from those involved in R&R of how they will manage this. R&R must take precedence over anything else in the gardens. It is a vital national project. We have a moral obligation to get on with it.