A Planning meeting about the statue of the late Queen will take place later this month.

The highly contested statue of HM Queen Elizabeth II, reference 2023/0593/FUL, will be discussed at an upcoming Planning and Licensing Committee meeting at Rutland County Council Chambers.

The statue, proposed by Rutland's Lord-Lieutenant, Dr Sarah Furness, was launched at a private Oakham Castle event in February.

It was first proposed that this state would cost £125,000.

Since the launch of the statue at the exclusive Oakham Castle event, and following backlash from local people about the expense during the cost-of-living crisis, the figure has allegedly been reduced.

Although the statue has been mostly funded through private donations, Oakham Town Council has donated £5,000 to the project, and it appears that they will be the authority who will be in charge of the upkeep of the addition.

The statue has provoked ongoing disunion across the county about affordability and patriotism, and has already been rejected, based upon location, by Rutland County Council once. However, the statue is already being crafted by Sculptor, Hywel Pratley.

Hywel Pratley is working on the statue. Image credit: LDRS.

Now, the planning application will be reported to the Planning and Licensing Committee at the next meeting on 19 September 2023.

Rutland residents have been invited to attend the Committee meeting held in The Council Chamber, Catmose Street, Oakham, Rutland.

The meeting will start at 7 pm however, residents should arrive in plenty of time prior to the start, by 6:45pm. Please note that there is limited available seating for members of the public so the team have asked that you please reserve a seat by contacting the Governance team at [email protected].

Requests to speak at the meeting regarding the application must be made in accordance with the Council's adopted Speaking Scheme for planning applications, which can be found online.

For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will also be available to listen to live via Zoom. A link to the meeting can be found at the start of the agenda which will be accessible online.

Have your say at Rutland County Council offices. Image credit: Nub News.

The Committee report will be available to view via the Rutland County Council website five working days before the meeting.

The Council has adopted public speaking at meetings of the Planning Committee and it forms part of the Constitution. As a result, the Public, Parish and Town Councils and applicants, or their agents, are now entitled to speak at the Committee meeting. Full guidance on who can speak and how to register to speak can be found in the guidance document.

If you would like to speak at the committee, please notify [email protected] by midday on 15 September 2023.

Comments about the statue are being accepted until 13 September.

Will you be attending?