A bid to get the Camp Bastion war memorial in Afghanistan moved to Wootton Bassett once the war is over has moved a step nearer.

In reply to a letter from North Wiltshire MP James Gray, defence minister Andrew Robathan wrote: “I think it only right that Wootton Bassett is considered for the future location of the memorial.”

“The people of the town have shown the greatest honour and support for the armed forces and, having met soldiers in Afghanistan, I know they value this greatly.

He added: “I can confirm that at the appropriate time, various locations will be considered, which will include Wootton Bassett.”

Mr Gray had asked the defence minister to shortlist the town as a mark of gratitude to the town’s role in the repatriation of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Gray said that the military like the idea of moving the memorial to Wootton Bassett because families would be able to visit it but he is not sure about what the people of Wootton Bassett think about it. “There have been lots of ideas about having tributes to the people of Wootton Bassett and basically, they don’t want it,” he said. “But this memorial wouldn’t be about the town, it would be about the fallen soldiers and their families.

“It wouldn’t happen for another five or ten years when Camp Bastion is finally closed, so the next step will be to talk to the people of the town and see what they think.

“Some of the people I have spoken to are very enthusiastic about it but a few people have just scratched their heads at the idea.”

The request preceded US President Barack Obama’s comments last week, praising the people of Wootton Bassett as representing “the best of British character.”

Prime Minister David Cameron has said a British withdrawal from Afghanistan could begin in 2011.