A GROUP of ex-servicemen are in fighting mood after being told materials they wish to use for a memorial garden may not get planning approval.

The Bramhope branch of the Royal British Legion has come out fighting after hearing that they may not be able to use the paving stone they have chosen for the revamped Garden of Remembrance.

The branch wants to lay Marshall stone in the East Gate-based garden to complement the newly-inscribed granite War Memorial they have imported from India.

The branch has not received a categorical refusal of their choice of stone but has been informed that the planning officer in charge of the matter would prefer them to use York or natural stone as he feels it is more hard-wearing.

Janet Sunderland, the clerk of Bramhope Parish Council, who met with the planning officer, told two members of the group at a council meeting: "He said that Marshall blocks would not be in keeping with such a nice area and that they would eventually date."

David Marshall and Ralph Turner, both members of the Bramhope group, said at the meeting that they would not agree to the use of either local stone or York stone as it was considerably more expensive and did not match the memorial stone.

Mr Marshall, secretary of the branch, said: "Local stone is a sand stone that will weather very badly. It will become very slippy and it won't last anything like even the crazy paving that is down there now. York stone is a lot darker and the other problem with it is that it is a very stealable item."

He was adamant that if the application for the Tegular blocks they wish to use was turned down they would cease their actions to improve the site altogether.

He said: "We are of the opinion now that if this does not go through we shall ignore it. We shall put up the memorial and leave the flagging as it is. Our main priority is just to redesign the garden to give us more standing room on Remembrance Sunday. We will let it be known that it is the planning people who have caused this problem."

The group are also objecting to the additional costs the use of natural stone would incur in cutting and labour - and say they would not be prepared to pick up the bill.

Mr Turner said: "The reason we have come here tonight is because we cannot afford it. If the parish council can afford it, then very good."

The parish council has a power of veto over the application as they own the property and the Royal British Legion is urging them to exercise their right to have the final say if the planning application is turned down.

John Mordy, chairman of the parish council, insisted that the plans for the war memorial had their full backing and suggested that a meeting be called between the branch, the parish council and the planning officer.

The Bramhope branch was inspired to commission a new memorial stone and revamp the gardens after it was discovered that several names of villagers who fell in combat did not appear on the existing memorial the Robert Craven Memorial Hall.

Mr Marshall said: "We are doing this because it is part of the village and if we can get this completed the site will be completely revitalised and become a focal point."

A Leeds City Council spokeswoman said: "We have not yet reached a decision regarding the materials to be used for the Bramhope War Memorial.

"Until official notification of the preferred materials, along with samples are submitted we are unable to make such a decision or comment any further."

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