Sikh memorial gets go-ahead
Planning consent has been granted to build the world's first dedicated Sikh memorial. The National Sikh Holocaust and Shaheedi Memorial will be built in Derby to represent the millions of Sikhs who died in six holocausts and both World Wars.
Planning permission to build the 7.2-metre high, 13-metre wide memorial was granted by Derby City Council.
The monument will be created near to the National Sikh Heritage Centre in Derby, where a museum dedicated to Sikh culture opened two years ago.
Funding for the £1m memorial will come entirely from charitable donations from the Sikh community locally and nationally, said museum volunteers.
Nottingham-based consultant engineer Morgan Tucker has been appointed to design and manage the construction of the memorial from several different stone types. The monument will be built by members of the community.
Matthew Tucker, of Morgan Tucker, said: "We are delighted to be working with the Sikh community on this memorial. It will be ornate and beautiful and close to the Gurdwara. We anticipate that people want to visit this memorial from all over the world. The combined museum and heritage centre and memorial will put Derby on the world stage."
Work is expected to start on site towards the end of summer with completion set for late 2011.
