Austerlands residents welcome completion of new community initiative by mayor

Local residents are pleased to see the completion of another good-causes initiative by current Mayor of Austerlands, Paul Sykes.

This time the installation of new wreath-holding guard rails at the foot of Saddleworth’s oldest Great War memorial. 
  
Austerlands Remembrance Day organiser David Needham explained: “The exposed location of our monument means over the years it has been necessary for us to tie poppy wreaths to the memorial, to prevent them from being blown about. This, unfortunately, has sometimes led to minor erosion/staining problems on its pillar. 
  
“In part, this has been used by the authorities to justify the untimely early removal of wreaths from the monument, so we welcome, and very much appreciate, Paul’s initiative to solve this longstanding problem.” 

Pictured: New guard rails Installation team: Phil Howard, Richard Dumbill and Paul Sykes.
  
Inspired by those installed on the Harrogate war memorial; the Austerlands guard rails have been designed by Paul and manufactured to his specification (including a powder coat finish) by UK Work Benches of Mossley, following an introduction by local resident Phil Howard. 
 
The two men, together with Richard Dumbill have now installed the guard rail around the monument’s lower plinth. 
  
In addition to money from the Mayor of Austerlands Charity Fund, the project has been subsidised by a grant from Saddleworth North Councillor Luke Lancaster’s ward budget. Cllr Lancaster also assisted with the getting permission to carry out the work from Oldham Council. 
  
Thanking  the contributors, Mr Needham added: “To see the completion of the project in a matter of months after first raising the issue is a pleasant surprise but with the people involved an early achievement was a given. 
  
“Their efforts will no doubt be appreciated in years to come and it is a fine legacy for the Austerlands Mayor as he reaches the close of his year in office.”