Calls for garden at Felixstowe's Royal British Legion site

The armed forces charity's former branch in Mill Lane, Felixstowe, is set to be redeveloped by Churchill Retirement Living as 58 retirement homes to 'improve the health and wellbeing' and 'meet the housing needs' of older people.

And Darren Aitchison, chair of the RBL's Felixstowe branch, is hoping a memorial garden can be included as part of the development, potentially featuring plaques and a bench engraved with the names of people whose ashes are at the site.

READ MORE: Churchill unveils plans for Mill Lane in Felixstowe

However, a planning application for the new homes is yet to be submitted to East Suffolk Council and therefore any remembrance garden would be subject to the plans being approved.

Earlier this week, the former RBL base, known as Goyfield House, had been demolished after standing derelict since the social club closed in 2020; becoming a target for vandals who caused a nuisance for neighbours.

Mr Aitchison said some of the people with ashes may have been in the military and that he was aware of six plaques at the site.

READ MORE: Plans will be submitted for the site in Mill Lane Felixstowe

An artist's impression of what the new Churchill Retirement Living development will look like at the former Royal British Legion premises in Felixstowe (Image: Churchill Retirement Living)However, he said the land had not been consecrated by the church - meaning it is set aside for sacred purposes - and therefore there were no restrictions on development.

He believed the ashes had been scattered by hand across the site over a period of perhaps 30 years and would probably have long since decomposed.

READ MORE: Felixstowe news

He has met representatives from Churchill Retirement Living to discuss his idea for a memorial garden.

"They were very positive about the idea and they liked the idea. My idea was some kind of memorial bench, like the benches with soldiers' names engraved on the back, but we don't even know yet whether they will get planning permission," Mr Aitchison added.

Churchill Retirement Living has estimated that the homes will bring £450,000 of extra spending to Felixstowe's town centre shops, as well as saving £264,000 in healthcare costs as the older residents will be leading a healthier, safer, more independent lifestyle.

The apartments will be aimed at local over-60s who want to carry on living independently as they get older, with the developer pledging they would be able to enjoy the safety, support and social life that comes with being part of a retirement living community.

READ MORE: Suffolk news