Campaign for decorated artillery shell as war memorial in Halesowen stalls amid talks over costs
A campaign to bring a decorated artillery shell to a neighbourhood as a war memorial and replacement landmark has been put on hold while organisers discuss costs with a Black Country council.
Plans have been in the pipeline for more 18 months to bring an artillery shell back to Shell Corner, in Halesowen, after one stood there after the First World War, giving the area its name.
Halesowen North’s Councillor Stuart Henley, who is leading the campaign, said Dudley council wants up to £12,000 to remove signage required for the shell to be installed.
He says that it is too costly and is now asking for a reduction in price.
Students from Halesowen College are currently painting artwork onto the metal object which features poppies and silhouettes of First World War soldiers.
Councillor Henley also wants to install a planter alongside the shell but is now looking at a brick-built one after originally wanting it to be metal.
He has launched a fundraising campaign to finance the project and has so far raised £500, but is asking for more donations.
Councillor Henley said: “I am in talks with the council over cost but hopefully I can get the price down.”
An artillery shell once stood in Shell Corner between 1924 to 1937 but it disappeared following changes to road layouts.
More than £110 has been donated at an online fundraising page and £1,000 has come from the Halesowen community forum.
Students from the college’s art department are carrying out the work to paint the shell, which weighs around half a ton, and was donated by a bomb squad in Essex around 18 months ago.
To donate to the project, visit the www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/returnoftheshell site.