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10/07/2008

More than just a clock...

Edinburgh council are currently planning to move the Heart of Midlothian War Memorial from its home at Haymarket for the duration of the works on the new tram system. The council have also suggested that this move culminates in a new permanent site at Atholl Crescent, located off the main street and behind a row of protected trees - in other words, out of sight of the main thoroughfare.

This memorial was built to commemorate those who committed the ultimate sacrifice and has served as a daily reminder of those who gave their lives. From a historical perspective, it is one of the most important war memorials in this country and is one of the only sites to continue to host services of remembrance to this day. It is a Hearts monument, but it also serves as a focal point for Hibernian, Raith Rovers and Falkirk - all of whom were represented by players and supporters alike in the famous McCrae's Battalion.

It is much much more than just bricks and mortar and should continue to be sited in a prominent place at Haymarket, not tucked away out of view for the sake of a tram system which can quite easily accommodate a new site for the monument. This was the council's original idea and was accepted during public consultation for the planning application - the council now wish to go back on what they promised us and remove the monument from Haymarket altogether.

An action group has been set up to raise awareness of this issue and liaise with the council in order to prevent this from happening, but it's all very much in the early stages at the moment. Please remember that the attendance at this year's service could serve as the most poignant reminder of what this memorial means to the people of Edinburgh, and to the supporters of Heart of Midlothian Football Club, Hibernian Football Club and a lot of Edinburgh's residents.

Try to be there on November 9th if you can.

Please sign this petition - the old clock needs your help.





If you want to know more about the story of McCrae's Battalion, please visit here.

3 comments:

Wreckless Euroafrican said...

Stuff them - have they no shame? Who put them in their seats in the first place? If they dare to move it anywhere other than in the center of the economic hub, I wi8ll personally make it my life's work to come over there and cause as much trouble as possible till it gets sorted. Try me... go on!
Salagatle!

Anonymous said...

I signed it. I hope it all works out. I can respect you wanting to save a little piece of history.

Anonymous said...

Signed the petition, who the hell do the cooncil think they are? Why bother with public "consultations" if they're just going to do whatever they like anyway? Grr...from a disgruntled non-council tax payer (exempt student, not a lawbreaker!)