MEMBERS of the Atherton branch of the Royal British Legion and the Royal Naval Association have unveiled ambitious plans to improve and extend the War Memorial site.

In February Wigan Council donated land adjacent to the memorial to extend the site.

The plan is to convert this new space into a memorial garden with raised stonework flowerbeds and an entrance archway.

In addition, flag poles and permanent floodlighting are proposed.

Peter Wilkie, Chairman of the Atherton RNA, told the Journal he would like the project to involve the whole Atherton community. Mr Wilkie says pupils from Hesketh Fletcher High have expressed a desire to get involved in the project and he hopes to attract support from local firms as Bents Garden Centre, Barton Grange, Keyline Builders Merchants and Travis Perkins.

In addition to site improvements, Mr Wilkie wants to update the records of local citizens who made the ultimate sacrifice for Queen and country.

For this purpose, Mr Wilkie and Peter Powell, who is Secretary of the Atherton branch of The Royal British Legion, have set up a web site where Athertonians can help update records for the planned new memorial.

The website lists the names, service, regiments and units of sons and daughters of Atherton who are known to have been killed in action or died as a result of injuries received in battle during the First and Second World Wars. The email address is: Drop a line...acmp@fsmail.net.