Council u-turn on clocktower roundabout
A STATUE of Charles II, the King responsible for establishing Newmarket as the headquarters of British racing, could soon grace the town's controversial clock tower roundabout.
Following the controversy sparked by the design of the roundabout, which features granite balls imported from China and prompted an online petition to be lodged at Downing Street, members of the Save Historic Newmarket Action Group (SHNAG) have been in talks with Suffolk County Council officials and councillor Lisa Chambers to get something more in line with the town's illustrious history marking one of its main gateways.
Campaigners suggested that a statue of Charles II, whose patronage of the town in the 17th century not only led to great prosperity and the development of horseracing, but also to it being known as the second capital of England, would be most appropriate.
"We felt that Newmarket without a lasting monument to Charles II was like Trafalgar Square without Nelson's Column," said Justine Wadham, of SHNAG. "Rather than have a statue made which would be incredibly expensive and might not please everyone, we decided to try to find one we could copy."
County council highways engineer Rod Sore, who was in charge of the roundabout project, found a statue of the Merry Monarch that could be reproduced. Fashioned in marble by leading Victorian sculptor Henry Weekes and dating back to 1869, it currently stands in the entrance hall of the Old Bailey in London.
"It belongs to the Palace of Westminster and so we had to contact the House of Lords for permission to make a copy," said Mr Sore. "And just before Christmas we received a letter saying we could go ahead."
Cllr Chambers said she was delighted a solution had been found and that the proposal would put before Newmarket Town Council on Monday for its views.
"The roundabout was very controversial and I said we were prepared to listen to what people had to say and to try to find a solution," she said.
"This initiative was led by SHNAG and I am really excited about the proposal for the statue."
If the proposal goes ahead, the statue will be carved from Portland stone and will be lit. The granite balls will stay in place to provide protection and it will be paid for by fundraising organised by SHNAG.
King Charles had a palace in Newmarket and laid the foundations for the town's racing heritage.
He established the Town Plate in 1665, a race he won himself at least once and is still contested today.
The Rowley Mile racecourse was named after his hack Old Rowley and the King was known to have surveyed the training grounds of Warren Hill from a shelter known as the King's Chair.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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