Outrage as Baildon moor memorial bench ordered to be removed

David Sutcliffe put a memorial bench on top of Baildon Moor at the end of last year in memory of his brother who took his own life after suffering from PTSD and serving his country in The Royal Marines.

However, Bradford Council has now asked for it to be removed as it never received the correct permissions to be there.

The bench on Baildon Moor

"I put it up there for my brother. He was in the military for 12 years, and he made me promise that if anything ever happened to him I’d scatter his ashes there and put something there to remember him by," Mr Sutcliffe said.

"I asked for permission from the Council, but never really got anywhere so we took it into our own hands."

When the T&A contacted Bradford Council, a spokesperson said: “The Council and its local partners very much support remembrance.

"But we have received several complaints about the bench as it never received approval before being put there.”

Tony Sutcliffe passed away aged 43

The Council explained that when Mr Sutcliffe approached them in 2019 requesting a site for the bench, they sent him a copy of the memorials policy, which is supported by Bradford’s Local Access Forum. He was advised that the site wasn’t on the approved locations list for Baildon Moor, but they would contact the Friends of Baildon Moor for their views on the matter.

However, The Friends responded by confirming the local policy and said that sites were available, but not at this location.

But now, David has set up a petition to show how many people want it to stay, which has gained more than 3,500 signatures.

People have commented on the online petition in support of the bench.

One person said: “The bench must stay, the memory must be kept alive of people that have paid the ultimate price for this country.”

And another commented: “People like this young man gave their lives so we could live in a free society. We should never forget those that gave the ultimate sacrifice.”

The Council says they will now continue to work with Mr Sutcliffe and local people to find a suitable site for this bench.

Click here to sign the petition.

• If you are having suicidal thoughts and need someone to talk to, please contact the Samaritans. The organisation's volunteers will listen. They won't judge or tell you what to do. Call 116123 at any time of day or night.

You can also contact Andy's Man Club via andysmanclub.co.uk which runs talking groups every Monday from 7pm for men all over Yorkshire and the rest of the UK.

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