Baden-Powell statue: Residents say they will protect effigy

That was the passionate message given to BCP Council deputy leader Mark Howell from residents who gathered to defend the Robert Baden-Powell statue at Poole Quay.

This came yesterday after the Daily Echo reported on the local authority’s intention to temporarily remove the statue of the Scouting movement founder following the listing of it on a website detailing potential targets for protesters.

Cllr Howell said that this listing could put “the much-loved statue at risk of damage or even destruction”, adding that the site will now receive 24-hour security.

• Baden-Powell statue under '24-hour security' until temporary removal or 'threat' diminishes

The Poole Town ward member spent much of yesterday at the quay and spoke with concerned residents.

In a back-and-forth exchange in front of the statue, Baiter resident Tommy Stranack, aged 52, said: “Don’t take it down. We don’t want it down.

“Put something around it to protect it. I will stand here 24 hours a day if I have to to protect it.”

Former Scout and Poole resident Len Banister, aged 78, said he would also fight to protect the statue and keep it in situ looking out at Brownsea Island.

Scouting veteran Len Banister

The council had initially intended to put the statue into safe storage yesterday, but Cllr Howell said further discussions were needed with contractors on the best way to remove it due to depth of the foundations.

On Thursday morning he had said contractors would not remove the statue with a crowd around it.

• Baden-Powell statue 'won't be removed as scheduled', says councillor

“We know that local people feel proud of Lord Baden-Powell’s and the Scout movement’s links with Poole, and that some people feel that we would be giving in to the protesters by temporarily removing the statue,” said Cllr Howell.

“However, we feel it is responsible to protect it for future generations to enjoy and respect.”

He added: “Although we cannot say when any temporary removal may take place, we will be providing 24-hour security until it is either removed or the threat diminishes.

“Should the statue be removed temporarily, barring unforeseen circumstances, we will return it to the quay as soon as the threat level subsides.”

• IN FULL: What police are saying about Baden-Powell statue

Support for keeping the statue was not completely unanimous yesterday.

Baiter Park resident Valerie Clark said: “I do not think it should be left there and the reason being is he was homophobic and that in itself outweighs all the marvellous things he did.

"I know people who have had fantastic times, girls and boys, in Scouting.

"It is like everything. If you have a bad thing that is going to impact on or could impact on youngsters it is not good. In my view the severity here will spark up too much angst."

'I was advocating for a conversation'

CALLS have been made for conversations to find a “more positive alternative” to the Baden-Powell statue.

Campaigner Corrie Drew believes the statue at Poole Quay should be removed.

The former Labour parliamentary candidate for Bournemouth East welcomed news of the decision by BCP Council on Wednesday night.

Ms Drew, who is not acting on behalf of the political party in her campaigning about the statue, told the Daily Echo: “I was advocating for a conversation in the community about a more positive alternative and that is still my position.

“We need to bring people together from the communities that were targeted by Baden-Powell’s discriminatory views when he was alive.

“Between them and representatives from the Scout movement we should be looking at a more positive alternative to put on the site that honours the great work of the Scout movement but without actually commemorating him as an individual.”

She added: “He did start a really good movement but that movement’s positivity has been built by hundreds of thousands of other people, not just on his initial work. It doesn’t erase his really contempt views.”