The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A war memorial and visitor centre will be built in Fleet after planners went against council officer recommendations and passed plans.
Harold Payne has been given the go-ahead to build the memorial next to his Anglia Motel on the A17 for soldiers who have died in all conflicts.
Planning officers had recommended it be refused due to the plans including a residence for a caretaker at the site which is outside the development limit of the village.
But South Holland District Council members decided to vote it through.
“The most important thing is to get something for Lincolnshire to recognise those who have fought and died in conflicts since World War Two,” said Harold afterwards. “Everyone’s really pleased with the result.
“I can’t thank everyone’s support enough.”
Harold says the caretaker accommodation is for safety as the site has been hit twice by vandals in recent years.
The planning committee was told similar applications had been refused, despite the businesses arguing it was to keep property safe.
But councillors backed the plans with Coun Rodney Grocock likening it to “a holy site”.
“People go there to pray and pay respects, not for business,” he said. “Harold Payne spends thousands on taking the veterans to memorials. He’s a wonderful man in terms of supporting the veterans.”
Councillors pondered asking for a deferral to see if a one storey accommodation would be more suitable to planning officers, but ultimately went against them and passed it anyway.
Coun Peter Coupland: “This is a person’s lifelong donation to the recent fallen, those who died in Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The site is established with planning and fencing which shows the amount of time, energy and cost that’s gone into it.
“It needs close protection from the morons who want to steal and damage a memorial to the fallen in conflicts.
“The officers say it will harm the area. That’s harsh.
“Try telling that to the thousands of family members of others fighting and paying homage to lose ones at this memorial site that’s been donated by someone who truly cares about our fallen and their families.
“It’s a one-off and won’t be setting a precedent as I can’t see another coming forward.”
