It is very welcome that relatives of those recorded on the Totnes War Memorial have been able to have their say about moving the memorial in advance of the public consultation starting this week. The Totnes Trust has been complimented by the War Memorials Trust for engaging the public in this way.

Already the St Mary’s Partnership is receiving positive ideas about its proposals. Local historian James Bell-chambers has suggested that if the memorial is moved, a ­memory, or ‘shadow’, could be created in engraved granite set into the ground to mark its 1921 position.

Others have suggested that the proposed beautiful new remembrance space, open to St Mary’s Square, would be good in its own right, without ­moving the memorial there.

Another suggestion has been to mark any move of the memorial with a series of major rededication events, celebrating the life histories of all those who died in war and involving local schools in research, ­artwork, poetry and the design of the new space.

Whatever democratic ­decision is made following ­consultation about the whole range of design ideas for the church and the surrounding heritage area, it is clear that everyone – and particularly ­relatives – will have been able to say and record whatever they think.

The partnership hopes they will feel they have been ­listened to respectfully.

The more new and alternative ideas that emerge from this community process the better.

Louis Victory

Moat Hill, Totnes