CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save an historic war memorial will learn its fate on Thursday, September 2.

Planning bosses have revealed that is the day when they are to decide whether to give the go-ahead to a luxury housing development.

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition against plans to move the monument from its home of 83 years to a new site 50 yards to the south.

Developer Stephen Fitton has suggested the move to allow for a major restructuring of the road at the junction of Blackburn Road and Darwen Road.

He hopes to build 11 homes and an apartment block on land he owns behind his Dunscar Fold Home. If the planning committee refuse his application, Mr Fitton will be forced to think again or lodge an appeal with the planning inspectorate.

But, if councillors on the committee vote to pass it, it would increase pressure on council leaders to go back on their pledge to refuse permission for the memorial to be moved.

David Crausby, MP for Bolton North-east, said: "This date is extremely important to the future of the memorial and these plans need to be defeated.

"I very much hope the planning committee reject the application because people do not want the memorial to be moved or to see more houses built in Bromley Cross."

Campaigners have described the plan to move the monument from its prominent position overlooking the two roads as "an insult to war heroes". But those involved in the application claim the scheme would give it a far more pleasant home away from the busy highway.

Meanwhile, a photograph has been uncovered of the junction before the memorial was erected in 1921.

It was taken by local postmaster Alexander McLean in the late 1910s.

The picture shows the old view from Darwen Road and shows the old 'fingerpost' signpost.

Alexender, known locally as 'Uncle Sandy', was the youngest of 12 children and sold the pictures as postcards in his shop on Blackburn Road. His grandaughter Sheila Sloan, who moved to Solihull in 1964, said he would have been horrified by the plan.

She said: "My grandfather contributed towards the cost of the memorial as did everyone else in the village and they were extremely proud of it.

"This plan is absolutely monstrous and I just hope that it is stopped."