Focal point for entire Leicester community approved
The plan for a statue of late Foxes chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, has been approved by Leicester City Council.
October will mark the two year anniversary since the tragic loss of the Leicester City owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and four others in a helicopter accident at King Power Stadium. After weeks of tributes at the stadium, the club opened a memorial garden for the Foxes faithful to pay their respects on trips to the stadium.
Plans were submitted for the 4.7 metre bronze statue in April – now development can finally begin. The structure will be located on the corner of King Power Stadium that links to Raw Dyke Road.
The statue of legacy will be standing atop a 2m bluestone plinth with the logo of the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation on a plaque which will be accompanied by 14 recessed LED tiles to illuminate the statue at night.
One objector stated that the statue should be positioned at the south-east of the stadium to be close to the memorial garden.
Now the monument has been approved, Foxes fans will have the opportunity to pay their respect to the beloved past owner. Furthermore, following the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Garden opening its doors in October last year, this new area will become a pilgrimage sight for Leicester fans and visiting Thai countrymen.
In 2018, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Vichai’s son, discussed his ambitions to honour his father with a statue. Speaking to lcfc.com, he said:
"“We will never be able to repay what he did for us […] we are committed to honouring his memory and upholding his legacy.“Our continued growth as a club, our state-of-the-art new training ground and our planned stadium expansion will help realise his vision for Leicester City.”Via: LCFC.com"
There were 32 residents in favour of the statue after locals were handed the opportunity to let their voice be heard on the prospect of work being undertaken, with some saying the statue would be a fantastic and fitting tribute to the late chairman.
This leaves the East Midlanders three-years to begin the structuring of the statue after “chosen the design and location of the statue.” When the plan was submitted, the club expanded on their idea of improving the “public realm” at the ground – by becoming a “focal point”.
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The approval of the statue provides Foxes fans more positive news, after it was confirmed Premier League will be returning on June 17th. A trip to Watford on June 20 is Brendan Rodgers’ team’s initial outing of the restart.