KNUTSFORD Library Gardens has been mooted as the preferred location for a new war memorial for the town.

At a recent meeting of Knutsford Town Council’s environment committee, the subject of a new war memorial was discussed.

A plan for a new memorial has been in the pipeline for over a year and would see the relocation of the Haron Baronian statue, which currently stands at the War Memorial Hospital on Northwich Road.

The town council has secured a £8,000 grant from Cheshire East Council towards the cost of the memorial and the town council has also set aside £10,000 for the project’s realisation.

The Little Heath was initially cited as the preferred location but, following a detailed report and recommendation from Derek Empson on behalf of the Royal British Legion, members resolved to endorse the library gardens as the preferred site.

Speaking at the meeting, Clr Neil Forbes said: “I attended five different ceremonies on Remembrance Sunday and the thing that struck me the most was that the current statue is so hidden from the town; it is so out of the way and is not seen by most people.

“I support moving it somewhere and both of the potential sites have merit. I personally see some benefit of the memorial being located on land owned by Cheshire East and the library gardens may be a more contemplative place.”

Clr Vivien Davies agreed that the library would be a more suitable location.

She said: “I think if it’s the wish of the British Legion for it to be at the library, we should really consider that. Having it near the roundabout in Knutsford would leave it open to erosion, due to the fumes from the traffic, and also to vandalism on certain nights of the week.

“We have seen what has happened to Elvis and the memorial would be just a few yards away.”

Clr Julian Goodrich said that the library site would be a ‘fantastic focus’ during remembrance events. Clr Yvonne Bancroft echoed this view.

“It ticks every box,” she said. “Who are we to go against the wishes of the British Legion?”

However, not everyone was in agreement with the library gardens suggestion.

Clr Peter Coan said he felt that the Little Heath was still the best option and that the British Legion’s reasons for not supporting the move to that site were ‘unsubstantiated’.

A public consultation on the new memorial will take place early in the New Year.