WELLINGTON Town Council has invited representatives of the National Trust to one of its future meetings for an update on progress in regard to repairs to Wellington Monument.

Councillors were told at their last meeting: “The National Trust’s first round application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for Wellington Monument had been turned down for the second time.

“The trust was awaiting formal feedback but it was unlikely it would submit again and because the HLF was the biggest funder of heritage projects in the country and one of only a couple of funders able to support projects at this level, filling the gap from elsewhere would be extremely challenging.

“It was now looking at all options and would stay in touch as it explored where to go from here.”

The National Trust has so far only £1 million of the £4million needed to repair the monument.