Grant pledge boosts D-Day memorial plan

22 December 2023

Plans for a new D-Day memorial at Stokes Bay have been given a boost following a £5,000 pledge from Gosport Borough Council.

The local D-Day Fellowship, which promotes the history of the 1944 invasion of Normandy, is raising money for the project, which it hopes to complete by June - 80 years after the departure of thousands of Allied troops from Gosport.

The group is hoping to get planning permission for the scheme, which would create a new memorial incorporating the existing Canadian and Mulberry Harbour memorials. It would form a semi-circle with six benches.

At its December meeting, the council's grants sub-board agreed to provide the money subject to planning permission and the D-Day Fellowship being successful in raising the other £35,000 needed for the memorial.

The council has two pots for grants - a heritage fund and a community fund. The first grants were awarded last March, and since then more than £160,000 has been given to local groups and projects. The grant application forms and guidance can be found on the council's website.

Recent community grants have included £2,000 for the free Fortonfest 2023 event and £5,000 for repairs at Lee Hub Independent Community Library. Local charities and sports clubs have also benefited.

Cllr Peter Chegwyn, Leader of the Council, said:

"Our grants funds have been very popular with local groups, clubs and charities. They give the council a flexible, direct way of helping good causes in the borough. The latest awards show the variety of projects that can be supported, and I'm particularly pleased we've been able to support the proposed D-Day memorial. The grants can really make a huge difference to a small organisation."

At the December sub-board meeting, members also agreed the following community grant awards:

·       Rowner Bowling Club - £4,000 contribution toward a new perimeter fence for the club

·       Gosport & District Sports Association for the Disabled - £4,000 for Friday Night Club costs for attending sports events and for sports equipment

·       Gosport Borough Cricket Club - £3,042 for two sight screens and replacement net for mobile practice cage

·       Gosport Community Cinema - £4,522 contribution toward costs for January to April 2024

·       Hub4Stuff - £1,500 toward appliance service and purchase, delivery van maintenance and costs

·       Lee Ranger Football Club adult team - £1,000 toward equipment and practice hire costs

·       The Ritz at St Vincent - £1,221 toward running costs and advertising campaign in 2024

·       The Green Dragon Football Club - £2,000 toward team equipment costs

·       Willow Incredible Garden - £5,000 contribution toward heart of garden elements

·       Bridgemary Rowner & Woodcott Community Association - £5,000 toward new front door and refurbishment of the lobby area

For more details of the grants, and to apply, go to www.gosport.gov.uk/gbcgrants

Grants are awarded on a provisional basis, subject to additional information being supplied by the applicants.