A planning application has been submitted for proposals for Faversham’s war memorial and garden.

Swale Borough Council will now have the final word on the £100,000 plans to dismantle the Grade II-listed monument in Stone Street and move it into the garden, which will also undergo a transformation.

If the listed building consent is granted, a new parade ground will be installed and stone plaques with an inscription of the names of the fallen of the two world wars.

The plans have already come under some criticism, including a group of gardeners who had voluntarily maintained the open green space for many years and are concerned their hard work is about to be concreted over, and others who believe the money could be better spent elsewhere on public services.

But after a public consultation, chairman of the war memorial committee Cllr Mike Cosgrove said there had been an “overwhelming majority of opinion in favour of the plans”, which again was disputed by campaigners.

In the plans submitted this week, Barry Hunt from FDA Architects writes: “The application is to dismantle the Grade II war memorial, flower holder, railings and stone kerb on the corner of Stone Street and Roman Road adjacent to the Memorial Garden in Stone Street, on behalf of the town council.

“The refurbished monument, flower holder, stone kerb and railings will be re-instated within the transformed memorial garden.

“The current position of the memorial causes traffic management difficulties when the Royal British Legion hold the annual Remembrance Day parade as both roads have to be closed to allow the parade to take place on either side of the monument.

“By moving the monument within the garden, the road closure issue will be resolved.

“We believe that the proposal will address the problems that exist with the monument in its current position and give an opportunity for it to be refurbished and re-sited in a safer place for future generations of Faversham.“

After the public consultation, a number of changes were made to the plans in response to comments, including a reduction in paving and additional benches.

Cllr Cosgrove said earlier this year: “For those who gave their lives for their country and the town of Faversham, is it not right that we give them and their memories righteous recognition in the memorial garden?

“We feel we have a lot of support for this and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“We believe the sacrifices made by people in Faversham should be remembered, and if the majority of the 3,000 war memorials across the country have the names of those killed, we believe that Faversham should do as well.”

The aim is to complete the project by November 2018.

Comments must be made before Friday, July 8.

To view the plans and comment, click here and search for reference 16/504008/LBC.