ALMOST 1,500 people have responded to a consultation about the future of the Laindon war memorial – with 90 per cent saying they want it in the town centre.

The memorial is currently outside the Laindon Centre, off High Road, and Basildon Council want to keep it in the shopping centre. The Basildon and Laindon Royal British Legion would like it moved to outside the Triangle Centre, Langdon Hills.

With plans for the Laindon regeneration and a new Morrisons supermarket, the council wants to make the memorial a key feature of the revamped town centre.

A total of 1,482 people answered the consultation, with the majority in favour of the war memorial and Royal Silver Jubilee fountain moved to the town centre. Steve Horgan, deputy leader of Basildon Council, said: “We have received about a 25 per cent response rate, which is very good for a postal survey.

“It is clear there is overwhelming support for retaining the memorial in Laindon town centre.

“We will be discussing the results over the coming weeks, before confirming how we will be proceeding.”

Alan Blackford, 69, manager of the Laindon Royal British Legion hall, said: “We do not think the council’s consultation has been fair, because we were not even consulted. We are willing to have our own consultation and let residents come in and share their views on where they’d like the memorial.”