October 10, 2018 8.55 am This story is over 65 months old

Councillors back £2k Lincoln blue plaque scheme

A £2,000 plan to honour historic figures and events across Lincoln has been backed by councillors
The plaque on Steep Hill, Lincoln, commemorating author and soldier T. E. Lawrence. Picture: David Hitchborne

A £2,000 plan to honour historic figures and events across Lincoln has been backed by councillors.

Under plans by the City of Lincoln Council, people would be able to suggest individuals to commemorate.

A small amount of plaques already exist, such as military and memorial commemorations, however there is no formal scheme.

Now, the proposal has received backing from the authority’s Policy Scrutiny Committee.

It is now expected to receive final approval from senior councillors on the authority’s executive.

Council officers said they decided to propose the plans after previous initiatives ran out and requests from the public to introduce plaques in areas of the city.

Now, officials have proposed to launch the Lincoln Commemorative Plaque scheme.

Councillor Tom Dyer described the plan as a “great idea” and welcomed it.

“It is important that we remember our history,” he said.

“This is something that is cheap to do but also effective and I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s something that the council should make a big deal about.”

Scrutiny chair, Councillor Chris Burke, added that the scheme is a “good proposal” and will help to open more plaques across the city for its historic figures.

For a person to be considered, they must have lived or worked in Lincoln for five years and it must have been 20 years since their death.

Similarly, two decades need to have passed for a historical event to be commemorated.

James Ward Usher

Notable people without plaques in Lincoln include philanthropist James Ward Usher and historian and former mayor of the city, Sir Francis Hill.

Residents would be able to apply to the city council for a plaque to be considered.

A £2,000 budget would be put up by the authority to fund the purchase, design and installation of the plaques.

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEKLY, our exclusive email newsletter with highlights from our coverage every week and insights and analysis from our local democracy reporters.