A STEEL memorial to a Worcester stalwart will soon be appearing in the centre of the city.

Worcester city councillors have approved the plan for the £16,000 Civil War memorial on the canal bridge at Sidbury, beside the Commandery.

It will be dedicated to the memory of Stuart McNidder – a former head of development services at the council, who died last year aged 63, and planners say it will be put up at the earliest opportunity.

The sculpture is to be hand-made out of galvanised steel, acid etched to create a darker colour, and will have helmets, breastplates and pikes, representing the opposing troops of the Royalist and Parliamentarians facing each other across a divide – in this case the road. The design is three-dimensional and will be attached to the bridge parapet wall, and has been designed to be ‘visually prominent’ from the surrounding area, including the canalside.

The sculpture will have a short dedication to Mr McNidder – who was also the driving force behind the development of Warndon Villages – which will be etched onto one of the breast plates.

John Wrightson, head of urban environment at the city council, said he believed the sculpture – which was designed by the Public Art Panel – reflects the historic aspect of the area.

“I consider the proposal is a fitting and suitable memorial for Stuart who was stalwart, for numerous years, of the urban/historic environment of Worcester,” he said.

Planning officer Alan Coleman told the city council’s planning committee that the memorial would be a “prominent feature for visitors using the canal network, visitors to the city and residents alike”.

Coun Geoff Williams said: “It’s been a long time coming and it’s in an excellent location.”

Following the death of Mr McNidder a fund was set up to enable a memorial to be put up, under the guidance of a steering group made up of council officers, the mayor and Mr McNidder’s family. The memorial will be created by blacksmith Lawrence Walker, who made the City Arcade gates opposite the Guildhall.

Mr Lawrence’s work was admired by Mr McNidder, who worked for the city for more than 20 years, and was awarded an MBE for services to planning and conservation.

The council had previously pledged £5,000 towards the scheme and the remainder of the cash will be taken from a city council fund earmarked for street enhancements, along with £3,450 donated by the public.