Alloa to remove Prince Andrew memorial stone
Councillors in Clackmannanshire have voted to remove and replace a stone slab in Alloa that commemorates a 2002 visit by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The decision follows concerns raised by constituents about whether the former prince should continue to be recognised in a prominent civic space near the council’s headquarters.
The slab marks the opening of Parliament Way in November 2002 and lies on a path close to Kilncraigs, on the route towards Alloa Tower, with BBC News reporting that councillors backed a motion from council leader Ellen Forson to remove the existing stone.
Councillors also supported replacing the slab with a memorial stone dedicated to Sir George Reid, the former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, who died in August last year. Ms Forson said the issue was “straightforward” and centred on who the community chooses to recognise in shared civic spaces, adding that the existing reference to the former Prince Andrew should be removed.
The motion stated that honours in public spaces should “command public confidence and reflect the values and integrity expected by our communities”, and council officers will now work on a proposed design and wording for the replacement. The move comes amid continued scrutiny of the Duke of York’s public role, including recent reporting on UK police seeking unredacted Epstein files on Andrew.
Clackmannanshire Council is expected to bring forward design proposals for the new memorial stone in due course, after which arrangements will be made to remove the existing slab and install its replacement.
