THE WAR Memorial in Barnoldswick could be moved to the town’s Memorial Gardens as part of a refurbishment.

Discussions have taken place between town councillors and Pendle Council over relocating the memorial, currently in Wellhouse Road, to the gardens, which are undergoing a refurbishment as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The costs of moving the memorial have been estimated at £20,000, and councillors said discussions were still taking place over whether to press ahead with the move.

Coun David Whipp said: “The town council had a three day consultation last week and the responses, of which there were a few hundred, are still being analysed.

“Having listened to people at that consultation it is clear that there are pros and cons, some people very much support the plan, others think it is fine where it is.”

The Memorial Gardens were originally created in memory of those killed in the Second World War, and it was suggested to the town council that the War Memorial would be a fitting centrepiece for the renovation taking place this spring.

Coun Whipp said: “The plus points are that Memorial Gardens provide a lot more space and at the current location it is very difficult to accommodate everybody on Remembrance Sunday.

“The Memorial Gardens has also lost its role, it is not used on Remembrance Sunday, but having the memorial there gives the gardens a purpose for the future.

“The downsides are that it would not be quite as central as it is at the moment, and we have to consider the cost of moving it as well, although there could be the opportunity to get some charitable funding towards the cost.”

The town council will further consider moving the memorial at their next meeting on Wednesday.