A COUNCILLOR leading a campaign to get a commemorative plaque installed on Billericay’s war memorial to honour the town’s victims of terrorism, believes he may have come up with a compromise.

For four years Terry Gandy has been battling for a fitting tribute to both Michele Beale and Carrie Taylor who perished in the 9/11 and 7/7 attacks, to be fixed on to the war memorial at the corner of Chapel Street and High Street.

Mr Gandy, who represents the town’s West Ward, was left angry and upset in 2008 after town councillors rejected the idea of the plaque, citing problems over the war memorial being an A-listed building as reasons for refusal.

Some residents also objected, saying the memorial was not the right place for such a tribute as the victims had not been part of the armed forces.

However Mr Gandy, said: “I am now looking at the possibility of getting the plaque fixed on to the wall overlooking the memorial.

“It wouldn’t be on the memorial itself but right next to it. It would be a focal point for victims families who could lay flowers on the memorial. I can’t see how anyone could object to this?

“The next step is to see how people and the authorities feel about this idea.”

This Wednesday marks the fifth anniversary of the July 7 bombings in which 52 people lost their lives. Carrie Taylor, 24, of Uplands Road, Billericay, died in the Aldgate tube bombing.

Carrie’s parents June, 60, and John, 58, also of Uplands Road, are supporting Mr Gandy.

Michele Beale, 37, of Hillhouse Road, Billericay, perished in the twin towers on September 11. A director with London-based Risk Waters, Michele was attending a conference at the World Trade Centre in New York, when the planes hit.

Mr Gandy added: “It’s unusual for a town the size of Billericay to have victims of both suicide attacks, so there should be a plaque commemorating this in a prominent place in the town.

“It will be too late for the July 7 anniversary, but hopefully it will be in place by September 11.”