THE Salisbury Vision team has said the new Grade II listed status of the war memorial in the Guildhall Square will not put a stop to plans to move it.

English Heritage listed the memorial last month, putting a spanner in the works of the Vision board’s plans to move it to the eastern side of the square as part of plans to rejuvenate the whole area.

But at a meeting held on Thursday, chief executive Richard Walters said: “While this will undoubtedly cause some delay it is intended that we will proceed with a listed building planning application as soon as possible.”

Mr Walters told the meeting at the Guildhall that the Vision had always treated the memorial as though it was listed in any case.

Su Thorpe, leader of Salisbury City Council, said that the council fully supports the plans as long as it is done sensitively.

Mr Walters said specialist workers will be brought in and that there is also the possibility of adding the names of those killed in the Second World War to those recorded from the First World War.

The meeting was also told that objections to plans to replace trees in the market place have been taken on board and that eight extra trees will now be planted. Discussions are underway as to the type of tree to be used, with hornbeams a possibility rather than ornamental pear in order to address concerns about the look of them and the canopy they would create.