RESIDENTS in Baildon are outraged as a memorial bench for a former local man has been removed by the council.

David Sutcliffe put a memorial bench on top of Baildon Moor at the end of last year in memory of his brother, Tony Sutcliffe, who took his own life after suffering from PTSD and serving his country in The Royal Marines.

However, earlier this year, the council requested that it is removed as it never received the correct permissions to be there.

At the time, David Sutcliffe said: "I put it up there for my brother. He was in the military for 12 years, and he made me promise that if anything ever happened to him I’d scatter his ashes there and put something there to remember him by,

"I asked for permission from the Council, but never really got anywhere so we took it into our own hands," Mr Sutcliffe said.

An online Change.org petition was set up which received almost 5,000 signatures in support of the bench.

Alisdair Baxter commented on the petition: “The bench must stay, the memory must be kept alive of people that have paid the ultimate price for this country.”

Liz Falconi, mother of Tony and David Sutcliffe, commented: “I am signing as my younger son found comfort having this bench made for his brother who passed away three years ago. 

“My older son served his country in the Royal Marines. It is a place for everyone who loved him to sit with their thoughts. A Baildon young man who is sadly missed and won’t be forgotten.”

Despite this, Bradford council removed the bench this week.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “This wasn’t an easy decision to make and, of course, we’re very sympathetic to Mr Sutcliffe and his family who would like to honour a loved one with a memorial.

“We decided to remove the bench after a long period of engagement with Mr Sutcliffe going back to 2019 when our position was first made clear. However, after it was installed without permission he refused to remove it or consider a more appropriate location.

“We have had several complaints about the bench and have engaged the Friends of Baildon Moor and Bradford’s Local Access Forum, both of whom supported its removal.

“Our offer of working with Mr Sutcliffe to find a more appropriate location still stands and we hope he reconsiders his position. We understand residents want to remember their loved ones but memorials need to be put in agreed locations.”

If you are having suicidal thoughts and need someone to talk to, please contact the Samaritans. The organisation's volunteers will listen. They won't judge or tell you what to do. Call 116123 at any time of day or night.

You can also contact Andy's Man Club via andysmanclub.co.uk which runs talking groups every Monday from 7pm for men all over Yorkshire and the rest of the UK.

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