Relocation of statue of Blackburn MP Barbara Castle back on

The larger than life-size bronze artwork is currently hidden by hoardings in front of Blackburn College in Jubilee Square while refurbishment work to itd Victoria Building takes place.

It is to move to the town's Cathedral Square for three years before being returned to its current location.

But Blackburn with Darwen Council's plans hit a hitch when the original new location proved to be unsuitable.

Now after a search of the area, a new spot has been found for the six foot four inches tall figure of the former Labour cabinet minister striding purposefully forward.

The relocation to the new site is set to be approved by Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee on Thursday.

Where the statue will move to

A report to councillors by borough planning manager Gavin Prescott says: "This application was previously presented to the April 18 meeting where the proposed statute was positioned in a slightly different location.

"The applicant discovered that there was insufficient coverage to install the statue in its previously proposed position.

"The original site was not viable due to the location of the structural wall to the side of the culvert that sits immediately below the paving.

"As such, the planning application was deferred.

"A number of other locations on Cathedral Square were subsequently investigated and the most suitable alternative temporary site has now been identified.

"The site remains set to the front of One Cathedral Square and the East elevation of the Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin, but positioned on the broad paved area, closest to the Cathedral grounds.

"Now that a suitable location has been found, and a re-consultation has taken place, the application is presented to planning committee again, in its revised position.

"The proposed development is to be located along the central pavement of the square, which is demarcated by smaller granite setts.

"The site is also within close proximity to other cultural and heritage assets including the Grandmother and Child sculpture at Railway Road, the War Memorial within the Cathedral precinct and the art installation, and The Healing of the Nations on the East gable at the Cathedral.

"Additionally, other statues (war memorial and of Queen Victoria) are located in this area, contributing to its significance and visual appearance, therefore the proposed bronze statue will not appear out of place.

"To the front of the statue is an integrated memorial stone, hand engraved with the following inscription: 'Barbara Castle, 1910–2002; MP for Blackburn 1945-79 and bold campaigner for equal rights'.”

After her House of Commons career, she was also a Member of the European Parliament and a member of the House of Lords as Baroness Castle of Blackburn.