A COUNTER-PETITION has been set up demanding that an "iconic" Chester city centre statue is kept where it is.

Last week, we reported that a petition had been launched calling for the removal of the bronze statue of Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere (1773-1865), because he was a former slave owner.

Records show that the celebrated cavalry officer, diplomat and politician received compensation of more than £7,000 for the liberation of 420 slaves in the Caribbean when slavery was abolished in 1833.

The Grade II* listed statue, which sits on the traffic island on Grosvenor Road between the HQ building and the entrance to Chester Crown Court, depicts Stapleton Cotton on horseback dressed in military uniform.

The petition calls on Cheshire West and Chester Council to remove the statue and potentially place it in a museum where people can learn about his complete history.

However, a counter-petition 'Keep Chester City Statue' has now been set up by Simon Ellson who believes that future generations should be educated without the need for "removing and erasing" the past.

His petition states: "Chester has a fine elegant statue in the form of Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere, (1773-1865), who was a cavalry officer, diplomat, politician and friend of Wellington.

"This statue has been an iconic image in Chester for decades and we should not erase history by removing this piece of history.

"Many statues are found in the UK and all have a link to something in the past, we should focus on educating our future generations in positive ways other than removing and erasing the past however dubious the story may seem."

Cheshire West and Chester Council has confirmed that it is carrying out a review of the borough’s historical association with slavery to inform debate with residents.

Statues with links to slavery have been removed in some parts of the country.

To view Simon's petition visit https://bit.ly/3116Xbn