OLD soldiers are asking people in a North-East market town for their views on where a new war memorial should be placed.

The Chester-le-Street War Memorial Group has planning permission to erect the memorial in Bridge End, opposite the market place.

But the recent demolition of the crumbling Civic Heart Arch has created the opportunity to place it in a more central position.

Consultation was launched at the Chester-le-Street Civic Centre today (Thursday, March 14) with residents encouraged to give their views.

The drop-in session was staged by the Chester-le-Street and District Area Action Partnership (AAP).

AAP co-ordinator Andrew Megginson said: “Placing the memorial in the market place was never considered as an option, because of the presence of the Civic Heart Arch, but that has now gone.

“We are asking if members of the public think the market place is a better location for the memorial and are looking at the feasibility of placing the it at this site.”

War memorial group trustee Alan Summerson, 69, said: “It is about time we had a decent war memorial. The old one, which used to be in the market place was knocked down.”

The new memorial will replace the unpopular obelisk near the town’s parish church as the focus of the town’s Remembrance Day ceremony.”

Anyone who would like to register their views are invited to email chester-le-streetaap@durham.gov.uk.