A planning application has been submitted to Mendip District Council for the relocation of Street's original war memorial.

The application to dismantle the original memorial and reconstruct it in a new location in Merriman Park in Street with later additions of the concrete insert, raised concrete curb and metal railings to be demolished and replaced with a simple stone border, has been made by Mark Sandiford of behalf of the parish council.

If the application is approved, the original memorial including the hooded Calvary, tapering octagonal shaft, square plinth and three-stepped octagonal base will be dismantled and

reconstructed in its new location.

The later additions of the concrete insert, raised concrete curb and metal railings will be demolished and removed.

The war memorial was built from the public subscription in the 1920s and originally placed in the grounds of the mission church on Vestry Road.

In the 1970s it was moved to Merriman Park on a temporary basis while changes were made to the road.

In 2018 the war memorial was listed by English Heritage without prior consultation with Street Parish Council.

As the existing memorial only included names from the First World War, a new memorial was commissioned to include a complete list of names from both the First and Second World War. The new memorial was located on the High Street and was inaugurated in 2018.

In early 2000s Street Parish Council took over Merriman Gardens from Mendip District Council and began to develop the park for fuller community use.

In 2017 the Merriman Park Community Group commissioned a new design for the park, which includes separate play areas for younger and older children, a table tennis table, fitness stations, a sensory garden and a large open grass area for leisure activities and community events.

The play area for older children and the table tennis table have already been installed. Funding has been secured for the regeneration of the play area for smaller children, as well as the sensory garden.

The war memorial is currently located in the centre of the open grass area, which the council says is hindering community events, such as the annual family fun day, where spectators

gather to view a staged area.

It is therefore proposed to relocate the war memorial to a subtly raised area in the south-east corner of Merriman Gardens, where it will retain a prominent position, but allow for greater community use of the gardens.

Other planning applications in the Street area received this week by Mendip District Council planners include:

First floor extension over existing kitchen/bathroom at Cold Harbour Cottage, Back River Drove, Sharpham, has been applied for by Mr and Mrs Blinman.

Prior approval for a proposed change of use of agricultural building to a dwellinghouse (Class C3) and for associated operational development on land at Reynolds Way, Butleigh, is wanted by Angus Macdonald.

Planning applications in the Street that have been decided this week by Mendip District Council include:

Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approval 2016/0779/OTS for the erection of a house and garage, matters of appearance/landscaping/scale to be determined at Denehurst, Martin Street, Baltonsborough, by Mr and Mrs Gordon Morris has been approved.

Application for outline planning permission with some matters reserved for installation of shipping container to provide new cafe with details of appearance, layout and scale (re-submission of 2019/2293/OTS) at Millfield School, Butleigh Road, Street, by Mr Ashley Bargery has been approved.

Outline planning permission for the erection of two dwellinghouses with details of access and layout on land at Leigh Road, Street, by Mr Gary Stevens has been refused.

Erection of extension on east elevation at The Grapevine, High Street, West Lydford, by Mrs Paula Wheatcroft has been approved.