Albert's adverts

Albert's adverts

As if London Transport's daft idea of sponsoring Tube stations was not crass enough, now English Heritage is seeking permission to sell advertising space on the hoarding surrounding the Albert Memorial. The Albert Memorial Trust, which must raise pounds 4m towards the pounds 14m repair bill for the Grade I-listed monument, claims it could raise pounds 1m over four years from advertising. An English Heritage spokeswoman says the idea is a "good solution" and might well set a precedent for the repair of other listed buildings in public ownership. The proposal has been fiercely resisted by the Royal Fine Art Commission.