Walsall Council criticised as two cenotaphs left with ‘moss and last year’s wreaths’ ahead of Remembrance Sunday

A Willenhall South councillor is calling on Walsall Council to improve its Remembrance Day preparations as she claims two cenotaphs were left with moss, weeds, litter and last year’s wreaths on them at the final hour.

All councillors were notified by the director of place and environment, Kathryn Moreton, that cenotaphs across the borough would be maintained ahead of Remembrance Sunday. 

But as of Friday afternoon, Councillor Simran Cheema said the two Willenhall sites on Field Street and Portobello had been forgotten.

After she contacted the council, a team came out to Field Street and carried out the works. 

On Saturday morning, Councillor Cheema said she had to rally round once again as the Portabello site had still not been cleared.

A team came out and cleared up the site but cllr Cheema said graffiti was left on the side of the cenotaph on Portobello.  

She said: “We were told the operations team would be carrying out additional maintenance around the cenotaphs so I was keeping my eye out on them during this week. 

“At 1pm on Friday, neither of the cenotaphs had been cleared and I started to panic. 

"Everyone switches off at 4pm on a Friday and a lot of the officers don’t work on the weekend. 

“The council should know that the area around the cenotaph needs to be cleared without me having to rush around getting emergency numbers. 

"It’s embarrassing that the council hadn’t got it sorted. It was a shambles. 

“I feel like Walsall Council does not care whatsoever about Willenhall. 

"There would be a lot of anger and frustration if the cenotaphs weren’t cleaned. 

"It’s a significant day, about remembering those who gave their life for this country. If it wasn’t done, I would have done it myself.”

'It's where you pay your respects to the fallen'

Des Birch, president of the Willenhall Royal British Legion, said: “It’s where you pay your respects to the fallen and there’s no reason why they can’t make it really special. 

"We didn’t think it was going to get done at all at one time, we were going to do it ourselves.”

A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “In preparation for Remembrance Sunday, the council completed routine cleaning around all cenotaphs in the borough, consistent with previous years. 

"While we strive to clean as close to the event as possible, and factor this into our weekend works programme, it is not possible to prevent leaves or litter from accumulating afterward.

“Specialist care is required to clean many of our memorial structures due to their listed status and to preserve names and carvings.

“Previous years’ poppy wreaths remain at cenotaphs to respect their significance. However, following concerns raised, old wreaths were removed from the memorial. 

"Next year, the council will discuss wreath removal with all organisers to ensure sensitivity.”