A local community group is in a last-ditch effort to prevent the relocation of a hundred-year-old war memorial in Finchampstead. 

The Save the Memorial Team (SMT) are asking residents to vote on whether they agree to the proposed relocation of the Grade II listed landmark from its current site, at the intersection of Jubilee Road and Rectory Hill, to a verge outside Memorial Park – losing its listed status in the process. 

Finchampstead Parish Council (FPC) conducted a resident's survey last year to determine whether to keep the current site or to move the monument to one of four alternative options. 

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The survey concluded that the site be moved to the verge, but SMT member and local resident, Ian Adnams, disputes this.

He said: “They took the results, interpreted it as they would like it to fit and [carried] on without having a clear remit as to where the relocation would be. 

“We are turning around the parish consolation […] We have 90 per cent vote in favour of leaving it where it is.” 

In February of this year, the council approved plans to move the 4.4 metre high Portland stone cross, which has been in place since 1920, citing reasons of public safety and getting more visitors. 

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Parish councillor Graham Jukes said at the time: “The site is extremely dangerous to visit in its current location. It is so dangerous that the parish council cannot recruit contractors to maintain the site. 

However, this is disputed by Mr Adnams, who argued: “There are contractors out there who would do it and there are maintenance free options for the land.” 

Issues relating to a lack of parking and limited pavements were deemed to make the current site unsafe, however, the SMT argue this is not a valid reason for the relocation as this “has been the case for 100 years.” 

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The planning officer, Kieran Neumann, said in his report that, at the time the Memorial was constructed, traffic was “significantly less prominent and frequent than it is today.”  

In addition to the £60,000 budget already allocated for the relocation, it appears that a further £95,000 would be needed for the renovation of the junction.  

However, minutes from a recent FPC meeting state that, should the memorial be moved, the Parish Council agreed "it was unable to commit funds to this.” 

The SMT will now conclude their vote and seek to bring their findings to the next council meeting later this month. 

“I am hoping that on May 26th they will accept our representation which will be an honest vote from the people as they [will know] exactly what their options are,” said Mr. Adnams.