The thing for me with this is that it's not just the families, it's the survivors. And the survivors families and friends. And their children. And then the people of Liverpool who seen that tragic day unfold in front of their eyes.
There's no doubt that if this is to be remembered for generations to come, then it needs to be thought provoking. Maybe the tool to provoke shouldn't be a physical thing for now though. It's far too fresh in the memories of everyone who's been affected by it. You can't just pass 20 years off and think it won't hurt people. Not that I think that the artist thinks that - he's a red and he's just putting his take on it so fair enough.
Educate people to the truth is the best tool for me. There's far too many aspects to the whole Hillsborough disaster. Give it more time and come up with something perfect. Because it's what everyone deserves who've been affected by this terrible tragedy.
I don't know. Maybe I'm not making sense. I wasn't there that day but I seen things I'll never want to see again on tv and in the media. To this day I can't look at any images and I find footage of people climbing over the railings very hard to take.
Liverpool Hillsborough survivor calls for controversial anniversary monument to be scrapped
A WOMAN whose haunted face became one of the most poignant images of Hillsborough today called for a proposed controversial monument about the tragedy to be scrapped.
The tortured features of Debbie Routledge, then 18, pinned up against the Leppings Lane perimeter fence, were shown throughout the world following the terrible crushes in Sheffield over 20 years ago.
The Walton woman, who rarely speaks about her ordeal, today decided to tell the ECHO of her huge upset with the planned memorial.
Ms Routledge said she is horrified with the 15ft high artwork which is being considered for the 21st anniversary of the disaster.
The season ticket holder described the creation as a âmirror imageâ of what happened to her on the Sheffield terraces.
The metal sculpture incorporates three figures, two of them lying horizontal, one apparently looking up to the heavens, in a striking encapsulation of April 15, 1989.
Debbie, now 39, told the ECHO: âIâm horrified it should be considered a monument.
âItâs an image I put back to that day. It would be very wrong to put it on display.
âItâs not appropriate. Thereâs already a monument at Anfield, why do we need a second one?
âAs soon as I saw it, I thought, âOh no!â Itâs not an image I would want to see.
âIf I was in Liverpool, Iâd make a conscious effort to avoid it.
âItâs very graphic and too fresh for the survivors.â
Debbie was pictured with her pal Lisa Ridings crushed up against the fences.
Their faces looked pained and initial newspaper observers presumed they had been killed, but they survived.
Heroic fans hauled both Debbie and Lisa on to the other side and laid them side by side on the pitch,
They passed out but supporters brought them round by slapping their faces.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Liverpool forward Craig Johnston gave Debbie lifts to Sheffield Hospital.
In 1997, she described her ordeal, recalling gasping for air when she really wanted deep gulps.
Inside the pen they had been able to breathe in but not out. Then, she added: "We were the lucky ones, we got out. I still don't know how but somehow we made it."
Debbie moved up to Glasgow 18 months ago, but has still got a season ticket for Anfield and tries to get to most home games.
She lost the use of her left hand temporarily after Hillsborough after she fell on it.
Debbie added: âThe artwork is something different, but the survivorâs viewpoint has to be considered as well as the bereaved families.
âI was pushed over the fence and as I was on top I was helped over by another fan.
âLisa was carried out on one of the stretcher boards
âIâd love to know who helped me.â
Today, Liverpool council said they were in a period of âreflectionâ until it is decided what to do next with the proposed sculpture.
The idea has not been scrapped, but given the opposition to the design, it seems unlikely it will be approved.
A council spokesman said: âThe artist commissioned the memorial at his own risk, itâs not something commissioned by the Town Hall or the council.
âThere is still an ambition to erect a memorial, but will it be this? We donât know.â
Some bereaved families from the Hillsborough Family Support Group were shown a model of the sculpture by artist Tony Evans and began to canvass opinion among relatives of the 96 fans killed and survivors.
The group agreed to underwrite the cost of the artwork, but it was stressed that a lengthy period of consultation was always set to be followed before any approval is made.
The creation polarised opinion among Liverpool fans after images of the memorial were leaked on to the internet.
A poll run online by the ECHO revealed how 69% thought the design âinappropriateâ, 23% viewed it as âthought-provokingâ and eight per cent thought it âmisguided.â
If it is approved, it could be stationed in the Town Hall ballroom and moved around to different locations in the city centre.
The idea for another monument was first broached by former Liverpool Lord Mayor and avid Red Steve Rotherham who presided over the emotional 20th anniversary events last April.
Dad John Glover, who lost his son Ian at Hillsborough, and campaigner Anne Williams, whose son Kevin, 15, was killed in Sheffield, have expressed their unhappiness with the proposed design.
Artist Mr Evans, himself an LFC supporter, has since stated he was shocked by the public reaction and said he did not want to offend anyone with his work.
He added he had amended the design after being told it was ânot strong enoughâ.
LinkI would like to know who told him it was not strong enough.