THE National Trust admits it still has some way to go to being able to make decisions on the future of Wellington Monument.

Helen Sharp, the Trust’s project manager, says in a progress report: "With any repair option, we are likely to need all the support we can get and as soon as we have a clearer idea of what we might need to do and how much it will cost, we would like to talk to the community about how we might work together and fund-raise."

She says that during the past year the Trust has carried out wind and movement monitoring, a ground penetrating radar survey conducted by abseiling down the three faces, a detailed visual inspection made using a giant cherry picker, and advanced commuter modelling to understand the different stresses and strains put upon the monument."

She adds: "In addition to this work, the efforts of our researcher Wendy Lutley have been vital to build an understanding of the history of the monument.

"Wendy, a retired landscape conservationist, has been looking at archival records on the monument now for over two years.

"She initially started looking at archives at the South West Heritage Trust at the Somerset Records Office.

"Then last winter she documented material held by the Wellington Museum, with help of its curator Colin Spackman, while Colin in parallel has been researching the Duke of Wellington’s other connections with Wellington.

"Our own archival files, covering the period since we took on the monument in the 30s, have also helped to document the various phases of repair and conservation work over the years."

"Wendy and Colin are both still finding things of interest. They have found evidence to suggest that the spiral staircase may have been installed a few years after the original walls were built in the early 1880s."

The Trust says they were delighted to join in the celebrations of the 200-year anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and were hugely ’moved’ by the numbers of people who turned up to watch local MP Rebecca Pow help turn on the lights at the monument.

"This strong show of support from the local community has further strengthened our determination to find a long-term solution for the monument," added Helen Sharp.

This year the Trust is to improve the signage to the site and to install new information panels, both in the car park and nearer to the monument to help people get more from their visit.