News - Positive talks over memorial (Ollerton)

Agreement between Tesco and Ollerton Town Council over the erection of a miners’ memorial at the former site of Ollerton Colliery is edging nearer after the two groups held positive talks. 

The council is supporting a campaign to have a memorial erected at the roundabout off Forest Road, the former pit entrance. The land is now owned by Tesco.

Two officials from Tesco’s corporate affairs department went on a site visit with council representatives and are due to make a decision on March 6.

Town clerk Mrs Karen Wakefield told a council meeting that Tesco recognised the importance of the issue to the community and that the delay had been because of a proposed extension to the Ollerton store, which could mean the memorial location would cause highways problems.

Mr Stan Crawford said: “They accepted that it needs to go somewhere where it is visible from the high street.

“What they did not want to do was agree to it only to then have to dig it up. They have their own agenda with the development of the store, but we pointed out that there should still be room for the memorial and they accepted that.” 

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Positive-talks-over-memorial

News - Call for Ollerton Colliery memorial at Tesco store

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for a memorial at a supermarket built on the site of a former Nottinghamshire colliery.

Former miner Carl Pickering and his wife Maureen are calling for a tribute to miners who worked and died at Ollerton Colliery, which shut in 1994.

They want a memorial put up at the entrance of the Tesco store, which was built on part of the former pit.

Tesco said it was working with the town council to find space for the tribute.

'Very dangerous'

Mr Pickering, who worked at the colliery for 20 years from 1973, said it was important for future generations in the town to remember the colliery.

"It was very hard work, very dangerous work at times," he said.

"It's trying to remember where the village comes from. Things do progress but if you forget where you've come from how are you going to think about where you're going to?

"Whatever form it takes, if it's a memorial to those who died and worked there I'd be quite happy," he said.

A Tesco spokesperson said: "We are committed to working with Ollerton Town Council to find a space for a miners' memorial at our New Ollerton store and recognise how important this is for residents who live in the local community.

"We have plans to build an extension to the store and want to make sure that the memorial's position will not impact on any new road layout that would be required by the county council."

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-16758535