Town where key D-Day decision made not lighting beacon
The National Trust said it would not be lighting a beacon to mark the D-Day landings in a town where a key decision was made about the mission.
The charity, which manages Dunstable Downs, in Bedfordshire, said "it was not in the position" to commemorate an event onsite due to costs.
Jean Yates, a Dunstable historian and author, said during World War Two, The Met Office relocated to the town, and it helped persuaded General Dwight D. Eisenhower that it "wasn't safe" to land on the coast of northern France on 5 June 1944. The mission was pushed back a day and Ms Yates said “half a million lives” were saved.
Dr Nick Curt, the president of the Dunstable Downs Rotary Club, said the beacon should be lit and hoped the charity would rethink its decision.
Ms Yates said the town had played "one of the most important roles" during the 1939 to 1945 conflict.
"We had The Met Office move here during the war for safety reasons," she said.
"D-Day depended on the weather, Eisenhower wanted to go on June 5 and it was Dunstable that persuaded him that it wasn't safe.
"We would have lost about half a million lives if we had gone on the fifth."
The National Trust said: "Sadly, we are not in a position to run a beacon lighting event at Dunstable Downs to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.”
It added: "Whilst the offer from Dunstable Town Council to contribute towards the costs for this event is greatly appreciated, the additional funds and staffing required to put on a lighting event of this size, safely, is not something we’re currently able to achieve as a charity, alongside our other events and conservation work."
It said it would "never forget the sacrifice made on D-Day or the selfless courage of the veterans of Normandy".
The beacon was last lit in 2022, for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, and more than 4,000 people gathered to watch.
Mr Curt said: "This is not a good decision. I don't think it's been carefully thought through.
"This is a very important anniversary. I think the National Trust need to think again."
Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830
