PLANS to commemorate the centenary of the armistice in Ringwood should go ahead without necessarily having permission, according to the town mayor.

Residents and councillors are hoping to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War with a display on the town’s roundabout.

However, at present Hampshire Highways have not given the green light to placing a Silent Soldier from the Royal British Legion’s remembrance project.

During a recent meeting of Ringwood Town Council’s recreation committee the anniversary was discussed. It was said Hampshire Highways had concerns that placing a Silent Soldier statue there would be a distraction to drivers.

However, a Highways official told the Daily Echo an application for the statue was only received this week. Mayor Tim Ward confirmed Knights Brown had already purchased a Silent Soldier.

At the meeting, Cllr Ward said: “If we want to purchase one and the offer of putting one on the gable end of Anthony’s estate agents is not taken up by Knights Brown then we can put one there. Or we can grasp the nettle like New Milton have. They proposed to put four in their Memorial Gardens and they are not asking anybody if they can do it. They are just going to do it.

"I’ve said before that I would advocate doing something and apologising, rather than asking permission and I still stand by that in cases like this.

“This is a temporary acknowledgement of the tremendous sacrifices that they made on our behalf. Do it and apologise rather than ask permission.”

Committee members resolved to receive an update on the situation and the matter brought back for further discussion.

Cllr Rob Humby, Hampshire County Council executive member for highways and transport, said the authority only received an application from Ringwood Town Council on Tuesday. He said: "We have not yet had a chance to assess the application, but as part of the process for considering whether to grant a licence, we will need to assess whether there is any impact on road users."