I WAS in Bolton one day last week and noticed in the town centre pedestrianised shopping area a splendid war memorial.

Even though I was on my way to a meeting and didn’t have time to loiter I couldn’t help but be drawn to the splendid inscription to the men and women of Bolton who gave their lives for the town’s freedom.

It got me wondering about our war memorial and how sad it is that it’s so isolated on a one-way traffic system with few people able to see it and spend time in quiet reflection for those who sacrificed their lives to save us.

In fact, even to get to it in the midst of busy Bridge Foot, you’re likely to risk your own life.

Other than on Remembrance Sunday, it seems to get little company and is rather neglected.

Visitors to our town can’t admire it and any living relatives of those soldiers whose names are inscribed on it can’t pay their respects with any ease.

We shouldn’t just be remembering those sacrifices once a year in November.

So I think it’s high time we moved it.

Queen’s Gardens springs to mind as a suitable resting place for it – I’m sure Colonel O’Leary wouldn’t mind. Or what about Bank Park which is being redeveloped to make it the principle town centre park?

Then there is all the Time Square development about to transform that part of town.

While the developers are busy installing cinemas and restaurants how about a spot for our cenotaph?

There can’t be a better time than this year – 100 years since the start of the First World War.

What could be more fitting than to introduce it to a new generation of people? War memorials provide military, social and art history.

They were originally commissioned to commemorate soldiers who died in the two world wars but as so many of our troops have been lost in recent conflicts – notably last week five soldiers were killed in Afghanistan – moving our war memorial would mean it would be accessible for young and old to pause in silent reflection to our troops in whatever conflict they died. Or even to offer up a few silent prayers for our troops’ safe return.

Warrington has lost too many young servicemen – Private Daniel Wade, Private Thomas Sephton, Marine Steven Birdsall and Kingsman Alex Green to name just the ones I can remember us reporting on.

Frankly it’s a disgrace to leave it on Bridge Foot – lest we forget, our town deserves better.