The National Trust says it is hugely disappointed to learn that its application for backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help save Wellington Monument has not been accepted for the second time.

The grant would have given money for detailed plans to repair the monument and allowed submission of a final bid to unlock significant funding for the repair project.

The trust says it will be looking at other options for the future of the monument and plans to mark the bicentenary of the laying of the foundation stone on October 21 are going ahead.

For the full story see this week’s Wellington Weekly News.