Compo statue for the Summer Wine town

Apr 27 2009 By Nick Lavigueur

A MUCH delayed project to get Compo a permanent new home in his beloved Holmfirth is back on track.

A statue of the loveable rogue made famous by late actor Bill Owen could become the centrepiece of a new Holmfirth Heritage Garden sometime next year after a Kirklees Council spokesman confirmed plans were underway.

Bill Owen, star of the hit TV series Last of the Summer Wine, died in 1999 but a bid to install a statue of him has been stalled since it was first mentioned in 2000.

A £34,000 appeal for a bronze statue was launched in 2003 but organisers, the Holme Valley Business Association, were unable to find a suitable sculptor.

Ambitious plans for a multi-themed garden at the site of the existing Victoria Gardens were submitted in April last year but nothing has been heard since.

But a spokesman for Kirklees Council’s regeneration team Steve Drury, confirmed they were "balancing their books" and making plans to get the gardens started.

He said: "It’s quite a complicated plan they’ve got. They want to create five bits of artwork to represent the heritage of Holmfirth.

"We have funding of about £200,000 to do the scheme.

"At the moment we’re just trying to balance the books and we’re working with a local company to design it. But I expect the project to be well underway in 12 months time."

Bill Owen’s son Tom Owen said: "I have desperately wanted a statue of him in the village of Holmfirth in the place and among the people that he loved so much for so long.

"I understand that there are a number of sculptors pitching for the commission.

"I have always wanted the sculptor John Adler to produce this lasting tribute to my father, not only because he is one of the best in the country but because he knew the man very well.