Campaigners make final stand against crematorium (From Northwich Guardian)

Campaigners make final stand against crematorium

9:00am Thursday 25th October 2012 in News By Emma Rigby

PLANS to build a crematorium and memorial garden on the border of Lostock Green and Lach Dennis will be heard by Cheshire West and Chester’s (CWAC) strategic planning committee today, Thursday.

The plans, submitted by Memoria Ltd, are recommended for approval by the committee.

If given the go ahead, residents fear the facility, planned for a site south of the junction of Hangman’s Lane and Birches Lane, will increase traffic flow and affect the vitality of both rural communities.

Bob Worrall, chair of the Lach Dennis and Lostock Green Action Group said: “I am very disappointed that the planning department have recommended approval of the crematorium application despite 165 letters of objection from worried residents and a very detailed report compiled by the action group.

“Our concerns have been many and varied but the main points of our objections have centred on need, suitability of the site, traffic and highway safety, use of open countryside, loss of a visual amenity and the vitality and viability of the two villages.”

He continued: “I understand that people will think we are NIMBYs living in a nice Cheshire area but the main thrust of our objections has been about suitability not availability. We are not against change in our locality, but it has to be change for the benefit of a local community and certainly not to benefit a company based outside the north west.

“A facility such as this should be best for both the local and the wider community, this site is neither.”

Members of Lach Dennis and Lostock Green Action Group (LDLG) have hired a 52-seater coach to take them to the meeting at Wyvern House, hoping to show the strength of support in opposition to the plans.

Bob said: “This meeting is pretty much our last chance to persuade the councillors to vote against the application.

“We have the right to a three minute statement which is the last throw of the dice with regard to influencing the vote.

“As a group, with no prior planning knowledge, we have been living and breathing this since April.

“I can only hope that we get it right.”