A war memorial could be protected from being paved over or bulldozed if an application is successful.

Enfield Borough Council has applied to Fields in Trust to protect Chase Green and Cenotaph Gardens from any developments.

If successful, it will be awarded Fields in Trust Centenary Status and become Centenary Fields, meaning it will be eligible to apply for government grants.

Run with the Royal British Legion, it is part of a national scheme led by fields in Trust to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War.

However, last week the authority caused controversy when it announced a new war memorial would be placed in Albany Park, east of the borough, instead of at the centre.

According to veterans, the memorial will not pass through many of the borough's parade routes.

Enfield Council’s cabinet member for environment and community safety, Councillor Chris Bond, said: “ “World War One was a terrible conflict which devastated Europe and cost the lives of millions of people.

“It is only right that we mark their sacrifice, and remember the members of the armed forces from Enfield who gave their lives during this conflict, by applying to protect our war memorial and the adjacent green space in perpetuity.

“We should also be proud that Enfield was at the very centre of the war effort during the First World War and made a huge contribution to the final victory, our ancestors played a pivotal role in bringing peace to Europe a century ago and we are working to protect our war memorial sites so we can protect them so future generations can remember their heroism and heed the warnings of the past.”