PEOPLE objecting to the construction of a national Holocaust memorial next to Parliament agree with the aims of improving remembrance and education, but oppose the location as the "wrong site" for such a landmark, a council meeting has heard.
But a Holocaust survivor said building a memorial beside the Palace of Westminster "where decisions are made" would help leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Westminster City Council's planning committee is considering a proposal for a UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens, central London.
Consultation on the plans attracted a "significant number" of responses, for and against, a committee meeting heard on Tuesday evening.
Planning officer David Dorward told the meeting: "The majority of comments, including objectors, are in favour of the applicant's aims to improve Holocaust remembrance and education."
The council is due to vote on whether to support the proposal, but the final decision will be made by the Communities Secretary after a public inquiry later this year.
Dorward said supporters include the mayor of London, various faith leaders and the council's Labour group, while objections have come from Historic England, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and Royal Parks.
He said many of those in favour of the plan feel a location beside Parliament would give the memorial prominence, but objectors fear harm to trees, increased security risks and more traffic in the area.
He said: "In terms of objections a primary concern is that Victoria Tower Gardens is the wrong site for a development of the size and form proposed and the proposals will change forever and harmfully the character of this public park."
Among those to address the meeting in support of the plan was Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich.
She said: "A memorial now next to Parliament where decisions are made will help us to learn the lessons that we have not done so far.
"As the Holocaust recedes into history and we survivors become less able to share our testimonies this memorial and learning centre will be a lasting legacy so that future generations will understand why it is important for people to remember the Holocaust, to learn from the past and stand up against injustice."
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Victoria Tower Gardens is a Grade II-listed park and forms a small triangular green space next to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament – collectively designated as a World Heritage Site.
The Holocaust memorial's design features 23 large bronze fin structures for visitors to walk among, leading to an underground learning centre.
At a service in London on Holocaust Memorial Day last month, PM Boris Johnson promised that a national Holocaust memorial and education centre will be built "so that future generations can never doubt what happened".
In a statement last year then-prime minister Theresa May backed the Victoria Tower Gardens plans, saying: "By putting our National Holocaust Memorial and Education Centre next to our Parliament, we make a solemn and eternal promise that Britain will never forget what happened in the Holocaust."
The council's decision will form part of a public inquiry due to take place in summer, after which the Communities Secretary will make a final decision.
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