Morgan statue gets permission...again (From Malvern Gazette)

Morgan statue gets permission...again

9:00am Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Robert Hale

ORGANISERS of an ambitious project to create a sculpture commemorating the Morgan car have been granted planning permission for the second time.

The Morgan Statue Foundation launched the appeal in 2004 with the intention of placing a life-size bronze of company founder H F S Morgan and one of the famous sports cars outside the Priory Gatehouse in Abbey Road.

Organisers got planning permission to install the sculpture in March 2007, but fund-raising stalled and the application lapsed.

However, the fund-raising effort revived in 2011 with backing from the company itself, the planning application was resubmitted at the start of this year – and Malvern Hills District Council has now approved it.

Morgan enthusiast Roger Moran,the appeal’s founder, said: “The Morgan factory is part of the town’s heritage and is also one of the town’s major attractions with some 20,000 visitors a year.

“Installing the statue can only increase the attractiveness of Malvern town centre to allthese visitors.”

The target is £377,000 and the appeal has so far raised £132,000. However, the foundation is hoping to get an Arts Council grant that will cover about a third of the total cost, or some £125,000.

He said he was confident the money could be raised.

Charles Morgan, managing director of the car company, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been granted planning permission for the Morgan statue.

We are more than half-way towards the final effort and the directors, the family and everyone at Morgan would like to thank the trustees for all of their continued hard work in making this possible.” The website address is morgan-org.co.uk.