Last updated 10:43, Thursday, 17 July 2008

VICTIMS of the Legionnaires’ outbreak will be commemorated by Barrow Borough Council – six years after the outbreak.

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Seven people died and 172 others were infected after deadly bacteria spewed out of the Barrow Borough Council-run Forum 28 in the summer of 2002. The council was later fined £125,000 for breaching health and safety laws and blasted as a “total shambles” by South Cumbria coroner Ian Smith. Chief executive Tom Campbell refused to step down despite protests from the victims’ families, and the council had until now refused to put up a fitting tribute.

But at last night’s full borough council meeting, Barrow mayor Dave Roberts announced plans for a memorial garden.

Councillor Roberts said: “As of late this afternoon, we received confirmation from the faculty, which is the Church of England planning authority, that a plot of land at one of our two civic churches, St George’s, has been made available to us for the purpose of a memorial garden in remembrance of those in our community who lost their lives in the Legionella outbreak and of others affected.

“Plans for the garden have been drawn up and will consist of a grassed area with a bench, a rosebush to commemorate each individual who died and one to represent all of the people affected collectively. An appropriate plaque will be placed there with ornamental railings surrounding the dedicated area.

“Following the protocols laid down by the faculty, work will commence and a date for the consecration of the garden and an opening date will be made public at the appropriate time.”

Cllr Roberts said it would be paid for using cash from the mayor’s civic fund.

Bill Merewood, of Hill Road, Barrow, whose wife Christine Merewood died in the outbreak, said: “I’m very pleased that they’re doing something to commemorate the tragedy and to remember the people who lost their lives.”

Andrew Macaulay, of Hertfordshire, who lost his grandfather Richard Macaulay in the outbreak, said the announcement was great news. He added: “I just think it’s right that people who died are remembered, as well as the people who survived.

“And I think it’s good for Barrow because Barrow needs to remember. It was a terrible thing for Barrow.”

But Mr Macaulay did say that the council should have put up a memorial within the first year of the outbreak.

Cllr Roberts told the Evening Mail: “It is something we’ve always wanted to do, but it was finding an appropriate place and something which was appropriate to the victims.”

Cllr Roberts said he hoped the memorial garden would be open within the next few months.

He went on to thank the Reverend Jane Nattrass for her help.