By Margaret Thatcher statue erected in Lincolnshire
A bronze statue of Margaret Thatcher has been erected in her hometown of Grantham.
The £300,000 statue was offered to South Kesteven District Council after plans to erect it in Parliament Square in London were rejected.
It has been placed on a 10ft (3m) high plinth under CCTV surveillance to minimise the risk of vandalism.
Two hours after it was put in place someone had thrown eggs at it.
Council leader Kelham Cooke said Baroness Thatcher would always be a significant part of Grantham’s heritage.
“She and her family have close ties with Grantham,” he said. “She was born, raised, and went to school here.
“It is, therefore, appropriate that she is commemorated by her hometown and that the debate that surrounds her legacy takes place here in Grantham.
“We must never hide from our history and this memorial will be a talking point for generations to come.”
Westminster Council turned down the statue in 2018, amid concerns and it was offered to Grantham.
A planned £100,000 unveiling ceremony attracted criticism in 2020.
The taxpayer-funded event was later abandoned by the council and an official ceremony, funded through donations, will take place at a later date.
The statue was installed on Sunday close to the site of the grocer’s shop owned by Baroness Thatcher’s family.
A CCTV camera has been installed directly opposite the memorial to combat any threats of vandalism, the council said.
The Grantham Community Heritage Association (GCHA), spent several years raising money for a permanent memorial to Baroness Thatcher.
Graham Jeal, of the GCHA, said she had been an “enormous political figure”, both nationally and internationally.
“It is recognised that the full spectrum of views exist in Grantham about the legacy of Margaret Thatcher and an exhibition inside the museum illustrates this,” he said.
