TOWN councillors are being asked to approve up to £12,000 to be spent on the first phase of rebuilding the old Wellington Monument pyramidion - the pointy bit at the top.

The pyramidion, all but the original cap stone, was replaced with new stones when the National Trust restored the monument in 2021.

The old stonework was then put in storage and later given to the town council, which plans to re-erect it as a centrepiece of a planned Station Square - which is actually triangular.

Station Square will be public realm next to the new Wellington Railway Station, which is due to be built and open by late 2028.

Councillors will be asked on Monday (August 3) to hire architect Jonah Jay, engineer Max Allard-Bridge, and stonemason Alasdair Kay to develop plans for the pyramidion’s reconstruction.

The trio all worked on the monument restoration project.

Council chief executive Dave Farrow said: “It would seem sensible for the specialists and contractors who managed the deconstruction of the pyramidion to be contracted to deliver at least the first phase of the project.”

Mr Farrow said all three professionalisms were required for the project.

He said the architect would draw up a detailed design for the reconstruction, sort out any planning issues, and provide technical advice and support.

The engineer would advise on the reconstruction method, specify the required substructure, and provide options for the reconstruction method.

The stonemason would sort the stones, identify anything missing and advise on replacements, provide an updated record drawing of the remaining masonry, assist in determining the reconstruction method and substructure requirements, and undertake the rebuild.

Mr Farrow said he recently met the three men and a ‘broad project plan’ had been developed.

The immediate work would involve sorting the stone and placing it on pallets to assess what might be missing or damaged beyond use.

Then, the method of reconstruction would need to be determined and therefore what substructure was going to be required.

Mr Farrow said the timing of the reconstruction depended on the build-out of the ‘square’ and associated buildings by developers Bloor Homes.

Bloor is committed to developing Station Square as part of a housing estate being built between the station site and the town’s Lidl supermarket.

Mr Farrow said once the access road through the estate to the station site was completed, Bloor would put in place the substructure for Station Square.

To do so, the company needed to know a specification for the foundations which would be required for the half-a-tonne pyramidion.

Mr Farrow said councillors decided some years ago as a sign of commitment to the railway station project to place a sum of money into reserves each year to support its delivery when needed.

Currently, the railway station reserve fund stood at £30,000, which could be used to cover the pyramidion reconstruction project.

Mr Farrow said phase two reconstruction costs were unknown until a method had been agreed and missing stones requiring replacement were assessed, so a further report would be brought to councillors.