Causeway Coast and Glens Council approves Garvagh memorial plinth in memory of UDR corporal
Causeway Coast and Glens Council’s Planning Committee has approved plans for a commemorative plinth at Garvagh War Memorial, in honour of Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) Corporal John Conley.
Corporal Conley was killed by a car bomb in Garvagh on July 23, 1974.
In 2023, members approved a motion for Council to ‘place a fitting and permanent memorial on or near the Garvagh War Memorial to all who served and to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and a plaque at Bridge Street, Garvagh the site of the bombing’.
During last October’s Leisure and Development Committee meeting, members were told participants in a public consultation universally supported the installation of a plaque honouring those who served, and a separate plinth in memory of Corporal Conley.
April’s Planning Committee unanimously approved the erection of the plaque onto the existing historic stone wall, and erection of the memorial plinth adjacent to existing steps of the memorial on Main Street.
A planning officer said the plaque will be inscribed in dark grey granite to match the existing basalt wall and existing war memorial, with a similar font type and size, while the memorial plinth will be granite or similar with matte brushed sandblasted finish to ensure similarity to the existing war memorial.
They added: ”No objections or representations have been received in relation to the proposed development and consultation has been carried out with a Historic Environment Division.
“Both Monuments and Buildings have not raised any objections, and have confirmed that the proposal has no greater demonstrable harm on the setting of the listed building.”
Members voted unanimously in favour of the application.