BURNHAM is set to have a permanent war memorial kept in Riverside Park.

To mark 100 years since the end of the First World War, Maldon District Council has installed several soldier statues across the district to be displayed for 100 days up until Remembrance Day in November, including the statue in Burnham.

The “Tommys” were always going to be a temporary display, however, Burnham Town Council have agreed to apply for and fund planning permission to keep the Riverside Park statue there permanently.

Councillors debated the issue at a public meeting on Tuesday, where mayor Wendy Stamp stated that many residents had got in touch to give positive feedback on the statue, and were asking if a permanent tribute could remain.

She said: “I have found out that we could keep the statue on, but he requires planning permission. Having looked into it, planning permission would cost £137.

“I would like to propose that we the council apply for planning permission for the statue and fund the application ourselves.”

Councillor Nick Skeens said: “I think it’s great that we can keep them, I was not impressed by the way the district council introduced them with little prior information, but I am pleased they are here and have been so well received.

“Hopefully it will not get vandalised, and I think we should keep it and cover the expenses, it’s a wonderful tribute.”

The statues have been well received throughout the whole district.

The Standard reported earlier this month that Little Totham Parish Council had received such good feedback from residents regarding the village’s statue that it set up a crowdfunding page to raise funds to install a permanent memorial near the village sign.

It has so far raised more than £90.