Councillors have called for a memorial to be constructed in honour of those in B&NES who have passed away from the Coronavirus.

The B&NES Conservative Group has tabled a motion for debate at this week’s Council meeting.

The motion seeks to recognise those people who have lost their lives due to Covid and pays tribute to all the key workers and health staff who have done so much for the community during the pandemic.

Other authorities across the country have been using blossom trees as a way to pay tribute.

If the motion is agreed by the Council this week, the Leader of the Council, Cllr Kevin Guy, will be required to create a cross-party working group to find a way for a blossom tree memorial, or other suitable memorial, to be created at an appropriate location in B&NES.

Cllr Vic Pritchard, Leader of the B&NES Conservative Group, said: “We are tabling this motion because we wish to honour those people in our local area who have lost their lives as a result of COVID-19.

“The pandemic has been a challenging time for all of us, but for some people, it has been devastating. We wish to extend a hand to those who have lost loved ones and to find a way for our community to heal.

“We think a memorial at a suitable location in B&NES would be a fitting way to honour people and to thank all the key workers and health staff who have looked after us over the past year.”

At the time of writing, 293 people in Bath and North East Somerset have died as a result of COVID-19.