A ROW has broken out over where Laindon’s war memorial should go.

The memorial, which was put up in the Thirties in High Road, has to be moved due to plans to regenerate Laindon Shopping Centre and the arrival of a Morrisons supermarket.

Don Sheppard, president of the Basildon and Laindon Royal British Legion, said the memorial should be moved to its branch at the Triangle Centre, Langdon Hills.

There are also calls for the public to have its say on where the memorial should go.

Laindon company Toomey Motors has already agreed to fund the removal and restoration of the memorial.

Mr Sheppard, 91, said: “We want residents to write in and give us suggestions about where they would like to see the war memorial sited.

“As far as I understand, no public consultation has been done to get the views of residents, and it doesn’t matter whether the memorial is in Laindon or Langdon Hills.

“Our suggestion is to have the memorial moved to our branch, which is a good idea because it will be accessible to all.”

However, Sandra Hillier, Tory councillor for Langdon Hills, said no decision has been made to relocate the memorial and that several sites were being considered.

She added: “The council has a duty of care for the memorial, which was donated to the people of Laindon, and not to Langdon Hills.

“We are looking at finding a suitable location in a rose garden and restoring it with names of those who sadly lost their lives.

“The actual decision on the site is subject to a cabinet report later this year.”

St Martins’ Labour ward councillor Pat Rackley, who also lives in Laindon, is unhappy no consultation has been carried out.

She said: “It should be the council’s top priority to consult families who have lost loved ones about where the memorial should be sited.”