George Michael fans disappointed as plans for permanent memorial are stalled
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Plans to erect a statue of late singer George Michael may have hit a snag as local council members seem reluctant to give planning permission.
The full-sized statue costing £100,000 was meant to be installed at the late star’s second home in Goring-on-Thames, but council members have not approved plans.
Council members said the plans were “not thorough enough” to put up the statue outside Michael’s second home.
British pop star George Michael (L)
The council said some of the residents of the 3,200 town, may be opposed to life-sized tributes to the star.
Fans hope to install a life-sized statue of Michael sitting on a sofa or bench on the high street in Goring.
They hope that the statue would be bolted down to discourage theft and that it would be bronze which is chemically aged to turn it green.
Those behind the plans have obtained a quote from artist Andrew Sinclair, who has created a sculpture of David Bowie for Aylesbury, Buckinghameshire.
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Fans have said they are disappointed that there is so far no permanent tribute to the star who died on Christmas day in 2016.
George Michael’s family have been forced to hire round the clock security for the star’s burial spot after its location was revealed online.
Despite not having a headstone, obsessive fans have revealed the exact location of his body online.
Security guards are now protecting the location 24 hours a day in a bid to stop fans flocking from around the world.
(Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
The Wham! star, who died on Christmas Day 2016, is known to be buried at Highgate Cemetery in north London.
The exact location of his body within the cemetery was intended to be private, however, to stop the area being damaged by large numbers of visitors.
Even though the spot is still not marked with a headstone, fans of the singer have shared its location online.
Photos have shown a heart-shaped plaque that reads: “Dear cousin, Beautiful memories treasured forever of the happy times we spent together.”
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A source told the Daily Star: “George’s fans are really militant, and want to flock to his grave to pay their respects.
“But the family don’t want anyone at this time of year when they want to hold their own private vigils at his grave.
“They have paid for extra security in the Christmas period to keep their tribute private and stop the grave potentially being ruined by fans trampling round it.
“It sounds dramatic that the grave is under 24/7 security – but that is pretty standard for celebrity graves.”
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It is understood George’s close family held a commemoration at his graveside on Christmas Day.
Michael’s sisters Melanie and Yioda and their dad Jack said issued a rare comment calling on fans to celebrate his life on the first anniversary of his death.
“This Christmas will be hard without him, but we know that we are not alone in our mourning the anniversary of his loss,” they said in a statement.
“Christmas is not always easy, life isn’t perfect and families are complicated.
British pop star George Michael (Photo credit CHRIS YOUNG/AFP/Getty Images)
“So if you can, in his memory this year, take a moment and a deep breath and say those ‘I love yous’ out loud.”
Since his sudden death, the outside of the mansion has become a shrine to the late singer.
The path outside of his house has been filled with thousands of gifts and tributes to George Michael from people from around the world.
But neighbours of have hit out at the shrine.
The shrine has attracted the attention of the Highgate Conservation Area advisory committee, a local group that aims to “preserve and enhance the character of the area.
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Chair of the group Susan Rose told the Daily Star: “One wonders what George Michael would think of it all outside the beautiful home that he looked after so well, and right where he erected a wonderful Christmas tree every year.”
She continued: “I think a statue would be great. A lot of people in Highgate would like a permanent memorial rather than mounds of dead flowers.”
A similar shrine was erected outside of Michael’s home in Oxfordshire at the time of his death.
Early reports speculated that Michael’s death was substance-related, but the death was later confirmed to be by natural causes.
