RUMOURS that the Wellington Monument could be allowed to fall down because of the cost of repairs were dismissed as "extremely hypothetical" by the National Trust this week.
Fears arose after a building surveyor for the trust told Wellington Museum Society that a decision to let the iconic structure crumble away "was an option."
Bridget Litchfield said a survey had found that the 175ft monument, which dominates the skyline to the south of the town and is currently closed to the public, could cost up to £3m to repair.
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But a spokesperson for the National Trust said the idea that the monument would be left to crumble was "very much a worse case scenario."
Katharine Davies, the Trust's regional communications and marketing manager added: "We're sorry if we have inadvertently caused any misunderstanding about the issues surrounding the future of the Wellington Monument.
"The options that were presented to the local society were the extreme hypothetical options rather than any based on sound research and consultation.
"We are in the process or carrying out in-depth surveys and research on the monument, some of which has been delayed due to bad weather this winter but is due to start again in June.
"Once this research is complete, and only then, will we be in a position to consider how we continue to conserve this Somerset landmark and we will consult widely as part of this process."
The monument was built as a tribute to the Duke of Wellington following his victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
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