A WAR memorial has been described as the “centre of the community” in Ramsbury, following an accusation that it had been neglected.

Chairman of the Ramsbury and Axeford Parish Council Sheila Glass said that the work the parish council has done next to the memorial hall had been praised by residents, after a Marlborough man called for the memorial to be cleaned.

Tony Smith, 81, wanted the council to clean black marks off the Portland stone memorial, which he visits regularly to see the names of his three ancestors who were among the 65 people from the village who died in the First World War.

Mrs Glass said: “I have had many people say how surprised they were to read the article about the memorial.

“I was surprised to see the article suggesting that the memorial is left in a state of major disrepair and ‘ruin’, showing lack of respect for the men whose names it bears.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. The names are not illegible. I’d say the memorial is at the centre of the community.”

“I plant the memorial garden with bulbs for spring and again with bedding for summer, the grass is kept trimmed and the planted beds tidy – all at the expense of the parish council.

“The path and surrounds have been repointed and in the week before the Remembrance service two of us spent two days planting bulbs and trimming shrubs so that the cross and garden were ready for the service.

“Professional advice is that cleaning the Portland Stone too frequently would result in the names becoming illegible.”

The council chairman added that despite Mr Smith’s criticism, the council received many complimentary comments about the area, which is visited by 200 people every Remembrance Sunday.