PLANS to move Huncoat War Memorial are set to be given approval this week.

The council’s cabinet will be asked to agree to move the memorial from its current location, on top of a hill off Higher Gate, to the corner of Lower Gate Road and Station Road when it meets tomorrow.

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In October, the Lancashire Telegraph reported how the Royal British Legion was in early discussions with the council about moving the memorial, which honours 25 fallen soldiers from the First World War and six from the Second World War.

The council believes moving it will allow for better access for Remembrance Sunday services and the disabled, and could cut acts of vandalism there.

Head of parks and cemeteries, Craig Haraben, said: “Concerns have been raised for a number of years about the poor quality access to Huncoat War Memorial by the Royal British Legion and other people attending Remembrance Day services.

“As underfoot conditions in November are usually boggy and slippy, it makes it very difficult for anyone with any mobility issues to get to the memorial. Access can also be very muddy.

“The site is quite isolated and has sporadically been subject to vandalism.”

The proposal was tabled at a Royal British Legion meeting in March.

The branch committee were in favour of the move, and a full branch meeting was held, where unanimous support was shown.

Two consultations were held in Huncoat — at St Augustine’s Church on Wednesday, October 15, and at a Huncoat Forum meeting five days later — with a preference shown to keep the memorial where it is and a footpath installed.

Mr Haraben said: “This has been rejected because the gradient of any new footpath across the field would not conform to the 1:12 required by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

“Also installing a new footpath would increase yearly costs and would add a maintenance liability the council does not have. Furthermore, any new footpath gives the council public liability issues it did not previously have, and there would be health and safety concerns about using the footpath in wet or icy weather due to its location and gradient.”

He continued: “Should cabinet agree to the relocation of the war memorial, it is proposed that a natural stone boulder with a plaque be placed on the current war memorial, to mark its current location.”

The council said it anticipates the majority of the cost of the move, which has not been disclosed, would be secured from external sources.

Speaking to the LancashireTelegraph in October, chairman of the Huncoat Community Forum, Roy Chetham said: “At first I was very keen on the idea of moving it, for an attraction in the village.

“To see a war memorial on the corner would be very nice, and easier for people to access, but traditionally I would be against moving it from its present site because that’s where the people who originally subscribed to it decided to put it.”