Budget boost for Dover's Commonwealth War Memorial Project

Plans to develop a Commonwealth War Memorial on the White Cliffs of Dover were given a significant boost in today's Budget with the Chancellor announcing a contribution of £500,000 from the LIBOR Fund to help develop the project.

The project aims to commemorate, by name, the 1.7 million British and Commonwealth losses from both world wars on 12 white granite walls sited on the White Cliffs of Dover. The town features prominently in the collective memory of both conflicts.

The site of the proposed memorial is owned by Dover District Council who submitted the bid to the LIBOR Fund, which was created from fines levied on the banks for attempting to manipulate inter-bank lending. The funding will be used to support the creation of an independent charitable trust to develop and bring the plans for the memorial forward. The Trust will raise the necessary funding and seek permissions to create and maintain the memorial.

Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council, said: "We're delighted that the Chancellor has recognised the value of this project as we approach the centenary of the end of the First World War. This period of our history was one of immense loss, but also underlined the strength of the Commonwealth.

"We look forward to realising these exciting plans, with designs developed by the architect, John Pegg and with support from Charlie Elphicke MP, which will add further to the opportunities at the Western Heights."