Council kills plan for crematorium in Lostock Green and Lach Dennis (From Northwich Guardian)

Council kills plan for crematorium in Lostock Green and Lach Dennis

8:00am Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News By Emma Rigby

PLANS to build a crematorium and memorial garden near Lostock Green and Lach Dennis have been refused.

Councillors rejected the proposals after they were deemed to be a departure from the local plan.

At a meeting last Thursday, the plans, submitted by Memoria Ltd, were rejected by seven out of the nine members of Cheshire West and Chester’s strategic planning committee.

The plans, which have been strongly opposed by the Lach Dennis and Lostock Green (LDLG) Action Group, would have seen 6.47 acres of open countryside turned into a private crematorium, gardens of remembrance and car park.

At the meeting, it was decided that both the size and location of the crematorium would be inappropriate and a departure from the Vale Royal Borough Local Plan.

Committee member Clr Eveleigh Moore Dutton said the plan and guidance specified new developments would be permitted in the open countryside where it had an 'essential requirement for a rural location which canot be accomodated elsewhere'.

She said: "My view is that if a rural location was necessary we would not have a single crematorium in London. I do not believe that this is the only site that the crematorium can be built on.”

Despite being recommended for approval, development planning manager Fiona Edwards said: “I recognise that this is a difficult application – it’s very emotive.

“The proposed crematorium by virtue of its size and location would be an alien and a departure from the Vale Royal Borough Local Plan.”

Speaking after the meeting, Bob Worrall, chairman of the LDLG Action Group, said: “The Action Group is delighted that their six month campaign against the crematorium has been recognised by the majority of the strategic planning committee.

“We obviously felt we had a very strong case but it was still a very nervous hour and a quarter while all parties but their particular case forward.

“When the decision came there was a stunned few seconds of silence followed by a roar and thunderous applause.

“To say that we are elated does not to justice to how we feel. I said previously that this was our last chance to influence the voting and that I hoped we got it right – it appears that we did.”

Fellow campaigner Ros Todhunter thanked residents for their continuing support after more than 60 attended Thursday’s meeting.

She said: “Thanks to our Parish Councils of Lach Dennis and Lostock Green and Mark Stocks, our ward councillor.

“Their speeches at the planning meeting and those of Bob Worrall, and Barri Dodgson from Bell Funeral Services, were heartfelt, to the point and made sure the councillors made the right decision.”

Michael Hackney, director for Memoria Ltd, said the company are currently examining their options.