FEARS are growing that a proposed road scheme at a town roundabout could destroy a nearby war memorial and gardens.People in Newmarket are furious over the plans at the Clock Tower Roundabout and have labelled them an insult to all those who gave their lives fighting for their country.

FEARS are growing that a proposed road scheme at a town roundabout could destroy a nearby war memorial and gardens.

People in Newmarket are furious over the plans at the Clock Tower Roundabout and have labelled them an insult to all those who gave their lives fighting for their country.

Suffolk County Council is proposing a number of changes at the roundabout, close to where outline planning permission has already been granted for a new Waitrose superstore.

The plans include installing traffic lights at the roundabout and widening the road at the expense of a footpath, which runs beside the war memorial and gardens cornering Fordham Road and Bury Road.

One proposal being considered by the county council is to put a new footpath through the middle of the memorial garden to replace the one that will be lost if the road is widened.

Derek Lander, Honorary branch secretary of the Newmarket and District Royal British Legion labelled the proposals a disgrace.

He said: "There have been strong rumours that they want to widen the road and put a footpath through the war memorial and the gardens, which I think is disgraceful.

"People sit in the garden and enjoy the peace and quiet to remember the ones they lost in the war. If the plans go ahead that will all be ruined, which is an insult to all our fallen heroes. We will fight these plans all the way."

West Suffolk MP Richard Spring has backed Mr Landers fight against the plans.

He said: "I would be shocked if any development were to take place that would detrimentally affect the character and appearance of a place that is so special for many people, and that serves as a focal point for the whole community. I would resist vigorously any measure that would cause this."

Newmarket town councillor James Littlewood says he feared the plans were being pushed forward to accommodate the proposed new Waitrose store.

He said: "The plans for the new Waitrose haven't been finally approved yet, but it has got outline planning permission. I think this road scheme is being done to accommodate the extra traffic that will come when the store opens. I am worried what will happen to the memorial garden because it is a special place for many people in the town."

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said: "We are redrawing the plans for the Clock Tower roundabout because the reaction of the town council to the original proposal. The original plans were not popular and we will discuss the new proposals with the town council later this month.

"We will make sure we consider very carefully the plans do not have an adverse impact on the memorial."