Lord Nelson statue faces uncertain future

A statue of Lord Nelson and the Captain of his Fleet is to go into storage until Chichester City Council can find it a suitable home.

In 2020 permission was given for five years to erect the resin and bronze statue of Nelson and Sir George Murray outside The Council House, Murray's former home, in North Street.

However, planning officers rejected permanent plans for the statue, arguing the resin would deteriorate over time and harm the Conservation Area and nearby Grade II* listed building.

Mayor of Chichester, Sean McHale, said the city council "remained committed to keeping the Murray and Nelson statue safe while exploring future options for the memorial".

The city council has looked into how much it would cost to cast it in bronze, but the £45,000 to £52,000 price tag was deemed too high, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A spokesman for the local authority said: "Given ongoing cost-of-living pressures and significant repairs needed to the Council House and Market Cross, the council decided this was not a priority and did not include it in the 2026-27 budget or council tax precept."

The statue was gifted to the city council in 2023 by the Murray Club, a group of local history enthusiasts who commissioned it to honour one of the city's most famous sons.

The club had planned to fund a bronze casting but has since disbanded, leaving the council to seek alternative funding that does not use public money.

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