CAMPAIGNERS have won a stay of execution in their fight against plans to relocate Crewe's war memorial to Municipal Square.

A highly-charged borough council meeting yesterday agreed to defer a final decision on the relocation plans to allow further investigations to be carried out.

Following almost three hours of intense debate, councillors agreed to ask planning officers to provide them with design and advice workshops before their June meeting.

The workshops will give councillors the opportunity to seek expert advice and visit both Municipal Square and Market Square in small groups before a decision is made.

The workshops are effectively a compromise after Cllr Bill McGinnis requested a full site visit be carried out before a decision was taken.

Cllr McGinnis told the meeting: "Today is no great demonstration of democracy at work, we should never have come to this.

"This is a matter of such intense public interest, and it would be absolutely ridiculous to have no site visit when we'd have one for something like a greenhouse. This isn't what democracy is all about."

In a blow to campaigners, councillors earlier approved plans for landscaping and improvements to Municipal Square, which could later include the relocated memorial.

The plans, which include landscaping, highway alterations, a distinctive elliptical footpath and street furniture, were approved by a slender 26-25 majority.

If the memorial relocation is rejected, an alternative centrepiece for the square would need to be found.

Planners recommended that councillors approve the relocation scheme, despite receiving 58 objections and two petitions signed by 2,360 people.

Recommending the move, officers said: "There is a powerful case for the memorial to be sited in a more peaceful and calm area away from the hustle and bustle that typifies Market Square."

Frank Jones, Memorial Action Team leader, said: "This gives us more time to fight this, and we'll continue to do so every step of the way.

"Of course, we were all bitterly disappointed when the Municipal Square plans were approved, but we'll still fight on to ensure the memorial stays where it is. We'll use the ballot box to show how we feel."