A striking new memorial could be erected in Liverpool at the 21st anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.
The metal artwork, to be funded by the public, is set to be unveiled in the city next April by the council’s Lord Mayor office.
It is expected to be initially stationed in the Town Hall ballroom before being moved to different locations within the city centre.
The lifesized model will stand 15 foot high and have a spiritual element with a top figure looking upwards to the heavens.
All the 96 names of those who died after the Sheffield crushes will be inscribed on the 96 flames carved into the metal stand.
The families hope football fans will drape their own scarves onto the flames when they visit the artwork.
Creator Tony Evans has created a model of the memorial and is keen to gain the backing of both grieving families and survivors for the model.
But the design, which features a top figure seemingly strewn on top of a metal fence, seems set to be controversial from the outset.
A number of families and survivors have expressed concerns about the very immediate portrayal of the 1989 disaster.
Letters have been sent to the 96 families and a period of consultation is set to begin, asking people for those opinions.
The Lord Mayor’s Office, who are behind the project, are keen to stress that nothing has been approved.
A letter to Hillsborough Family Support Group members read: ““The statue is not intended to elicit sympathy, but to tell the story of a tragic event which unfortunately part of Liverpool life, and which brought, and which continues to bring, Liverpool people together and those touched by this from further afield.
“It also shows that, 21 years later, feelings have not diminished, and so many still wonder why.”
Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: “When I first saw the model, I went into quiet mode because of the way it looks.
“I think it does, however, tell the story of what those people went through.”
But in other quarters, the artwork not have won favour, and was today criticised by some people.
Both the Glover family, who lost their son Ian, 20, on the Leppings Lane terraces, and mum Anne Williams, whose son Kevin, 15, died, have registered their unhappiness with the design.
Dad John Glover told the ECHO he was taken aback when he first saw it, and he said: “For those people who were at Hillsborough, seeing this could knock them back to day one.”
Cllr Steve Rotheram, last year’s Lord Mayor and Liverpool FC fan who was heavily involved in the 20th Hillsborough anniversary, first had the idea for a permanent memorial.
He said: “We will ask all the families and survivors. If it causes concerns, perhaps it’s not the right time for it.
“The first time I saw it, it knocked me back. It’s very poignant. But the last thing we want to do is cause offence.
“This design is certainly not sanitised, it’s like Jimmy McGovern’s play which was warts and all.
“It provides a visual representation of what people will automatically recognise. The main figure seems to be looking to the skies, asking ‘why?’
Artist Tony Evans, however, stressed that the approval of the families and everyone affected by the 1989 disaster was of utmost importance.
He said: “I was asked to realise something in my style and create a suitable memorial, and being a Liverpudlian and an LFC fan I was only too happy.
“I tried to create a striking image of what it must have felt like to be in that position on that day, and it hopefully shows something of the strength of character of those people and how well they coped, rather than seeing them as victims.
“I realised it was an emotional subject and we had to tread carefully. The last thing we want to do is upset anyone. I thought it was a very worthwhile subject, and will go ahead if people thought it was worthy.
“Hillsborough is a major thing for me and most of Liverpool.
“We are looking for feedback of what people think of what I've come up with, we have contacted all the support groups and are giving them a chance to see it and comment on it. They are integral to the whole thing, and that is in the process of being done.
The metal artwork, to be funded by the public, is set to be unveiled in the city next April by the council’s Lord Mayor office.
It is expected to be initially stationed in the Town Hall ballroom before being moved to different locations within the city centre.
The lifesized model will stand 15 foot high and have a spiritual element with a top figure looking upwards to the heavens.
All the 96 names of those who died after the Sheffield crushes will be inscribed on the 96 flames carved into the metal stand.
The families hope football fans will drape their own scarves onto the flames when they visit the artwork.
Creator Tony Evans has created a model of the memorial and is keen to gain the backing of both grieving families and survivors for the model.
But the design, which features a top figure seemingly strewn on top of a metal fence, seems set to be controversial from the outset.
A number of families and survivors have expressed concerns about the very immediate portrayal of the 1989 disaster.
Letters have been sent to the 96 families and a period of consultation is set to begin, asking people for those opinions.
The Lord Mayor’s Office, who are behind the project, are keen to stress that nothing has been approved.
A letter to Hillsborough Family Support Group members read: ““The statue is not intended to elicit sympathy, but to tell the story of a tragic event which unfortunately part of Liverpool life, and which brought, and which continues to bring, Liverpool people together and those touched by this from further afield.
“It also shows that, 21 years later, feelings have not diminished, and so many still wonder why.”
Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: “When I first saw the model, I went into quiet mode because of the way it looks.
“I think it does, however, tell the story of what those people went through.”
But in other quarters, the artwork not have won favour, and was today criticised by some people.
Both the Glover family, who lost their son Ian, 20, on the Leppings Lane terraces, and mum Anne Williams, whose son Kevin, 15, died, have registered their unhappiness with the design.
Dad John Glover told the ECHO he was taken aback when he first saw it, and he said: “For those people who were at Hillsborough, seeing this could knock them back to day one.”
Cllr Steve Rotheram, last year’s Lord Mayor and Liverpool FC fan who was heavily involved in the 20th Hillsborough anniversary, first had the idea for a permanent memorial.
He said: “We will ask all the families and survivors. If it causes concerns, perhaps it’s not the right time for it.
“The first time I saw it, it knocked me back. It’s very poignant. But the last thing we want to do is cause offence.
“This design is certainly not sanitised, it’s like Jimmy McGovern’s play which was warts and all.
“It provides a visual representation of what people will automatically recognise. The main figure seems to be looking to the skies, asking ‘why?’
Artist Tony Evans, however, stressed that the approval of the families and everyone affected by the 1989 disaster was of utmost importance.
He said: “I was asked to realise something in my style and create a suitable memorial, and being a Liverpudlian and an LFC fan I was only too happy.
“I tried to create a striking image of what it must have felt like to be in that position on that day, and it hopefully shows something of the strength of character of those people and how well they coped, rather than seeing them as victims.
“I realised it was an emotional subject and we had to tread carefully. The last thing we want to do is upset anyone. I thought it was a very worthwhile subject, and will go ahead if people thought it was worthy.
“Hillsborough is a major thing for me and most of Liverpool.
“We are looking for feedback of what people think of what I've come up with, we have contacted all the support groups and are giving them a chance to see it and comment on it. They are integral to the whole thing, and that is in the process of being done.
“It's a very delicate subject and it's all very well wanting to make a great piece of artwork, but when it's something so emotional you have to speak to those who have been affected by it, and give them the final say.”
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