MEON Valley MP, George Hollingbery, has urged community groups in his constituency to apply for a grant to explore and conserve local First World War heritage.
No-one from the Meon Valley his applied for a share of the £2million pot that the Heritage Lottery Fund has set aside for its ‘First World War: then and now’ initiative.
The cash has allowed thousands of young people and communities to mark WWI milestones through research and conservation.
“The Meon Valley is steeped in military history and has plenty of war memorials,” said the MP. “Young men from the area were probably involved in battles like the The Somme, Jutland and Passchendaele.
“So it’s a real shame no community group from our part of the world has applied for a grant from the fund to help understand or even unearth stories from 100 years ago that need preserving.
“It’s very important we remember the impact of this war and there is still time to apply for National Lottery money. If anyone has an idea for their own project I would urge them to get in touch with the Heritage Lottery Fund.”
More information can be found at www.hlf.org.uk