VE Day anniversary beacon planned near village church

Plans for a ceremonial beacon to help a County Durham village celebrate a milestone anniversary of VE Day have officially been lodged.
File picture of a similar beacon elsewhere in the North EastFile picture of a similar beacon elsewhere in the North East
File picture of a similar beacon elsewhere in the North East

This week, Durham County Council verified plans for a gas-fuelled structure on land at Front Street in Fishburn.

The application, from the village’s parish council, will mark 75 years since the Second World War came to an end.

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If approved, it is hoped it will be erected in time for official Victory in Europe Day celebrations between May 8-10 later this year.

Hundreds of Beacons were lit in the UK in 2015 to mark 70 years since the end of the war, and public flames have burned on other key dates in recent decades, including the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016.

Early plans indicate the Fishburn structure would measure five metres in height.

According to planning documents, the beacon would be erected on a concrete base on Fishburn’s village green, near St Catherine’s Church.

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The Parochial Church Council of the Upper Skerne , which owns the land, also submitted a letter to the council in support of the proposals.

Public comments are open on the plans until Thursday, January 30 with a final decision expected by March.

For more information, visit the council’s planning portal and search planning reference: DM/19/03970/FPA