Memorial will be on show for parade

Rugeley's war memorial will be on show at the town's annual Remembrance Sunday Parade.

Councillors, officers and members of the Royal British Legion have agreed the memorial should be reinstalled in Anson Street.

But as it may not be possible to get planning permission in time for Remembrance Sunday in November, they agreed the plinth, the fence and the roll of honour parts could be taken from storage and put up as a temporary memorial for the day and following fortnight for people to pay their respects.

The pledge comes after fears were raised that the parade could be cancelled if the memorial was not returned in time.

Cannock Chase Council's town centres development leader, Councillor Danny Davies said: "There will be something there for Remembrance Sunday so the parade can carry on.

"Everyone has decided that Anson Street is the best place for it and it will then be back metres from its original home pre-1970. But it needs planning permission which will take six to eight weeks.

"We can't guarantee it's going to be back in time so we have a compromise solution, which has satisfied the British Legion. We can put the plinth, with the roll of honour on top and fence around it at Anson Street as a temporary solution for Remembrance Sunday.

"That will do two things, it can act as a trial to see how everything will be with the parade before it is put there permanently and we will have something to march to and gather around on the day."

The memorial was dismantled in March when the culvert beneath it collapsed in Brook Square.

Now Severn Trent Water has given permission for the memorial to be sited in Anson Street above its sewer pipes, Cannock Chase Council is looking to move the memorial there while keeping the brook as a water feature.