THE grandfather of the latest war hero to be honoured on the town's cenotaph has spoken of his 'devastation' at the plan to re-site it.
Ted Roach, 85, who himself served with distinction in the Second World War, pledged: 'I'll fight this idea if it's the last thing I do.'
His comments come as officials of the Royal British Legion's Ellesmere Port branch meet council bosses today to discuss the issue.
Mr Roach, of Wellesley Avenue, is the latest relative of men named on the cenotaph to oppose the scheme to move it from the middle to the southern side of the square as part of a £3m facelift.
Last week, Jackie Dowling, of Great Sutton, whose partner Royal Marine Commando Paul Callan was killed in the Falklands war, described the relocation as 'disgusting'.
Mr Roach is the grandfather of Corporal Marc Taylor, 28, whose name was added to the memorial last year after he was killed in Iraq.
He said: 'Apart from my grandson, there are the names of a lot of my mates who were killed fighting alongside me inscribed on it and it should stay where it is.
'Marc is buried at Ince but I am disabled and have trouble getting there to see his grave, so I spend time at the cenotaph thinking of him.'
Last week the Pioneer carried state-ments from both sides and signatures continue to be added to a Royal British Legion petition calling for the scheme to be re-thought.
The council insists there has been full consultation, with interested parties expressing their support.
And it adds: 'The council is satisfied that the relocation of the cenotaph is essential to the overall improvement scheme. It will remain as one of the key features of the square.'
The Royal British Legion's Ellesmere Port branch says council claims that it consulted with everyone involved over the plan 'could not be further from the truth'.
Its officials have written to Ellesmere Port Labour MP Andrew Miller seeking his support.
Myles Hogg, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for the area, has described the cenotaph move as 'both insensitive and unnecessary'.
