TRAFFIC issues were raised as the primary concern by villagers who had a first look at plans for a memorial park and crematorium in Lach Dennis.

Residents of Lach Dennis and Lostock Green filled Lach Dennis Village Hall for a special exhibition on Thursday, which unveiled proposals by Memoria Ltd for a site south of the junction of Hangman’s Lane and Birches Lane.

If given the green light, the crematorium would host three or four services each day, each lasting 45 minutes, in a chapel which would seat 75 people.

There will also be clergy facilities, a garden of remembrance, a childrens’ memorial garden and a waterfall within the grounds and a carpark with room for 60 vehicles.

Lostock Green resident Sandra Boyle said the need for a crematorium in the area was clear.

But she said its proposed location would have significant implications for traffic in Lostock Gralam and Lach Dennis.

“My major concern is the huge increase in traffic through the village as there is no other way for people to get in and out,” she said.

“We already have trouble with cars coming through the village and of course, this is a residential area.

“Genuinely, this will have a huge impact on traffic.”

Ros Todhunter and Fiona Cotton, both of whom live in Birches Lane, Lostock Green, shared similar concerns about traffic.

Ros, who puts together village newsletter Gossip on the Green, said: “What we are really concerned about in the village is the speed of traffic going through the village.

“When people come into the village they are having trouble slowing down to 30mph and we are concerned about the safety of the kids crossing the road.

“The junction of Penny’s Lane and Birches Lane is also a very acute left-hand turn.”

Fiona said the proposed site was in the wrong location ‘without a shadow of a doubt’.

“It will be a huge impact on the village in terms of volume of people coming through,” she added.

“I don’t mind what something looks like in terms of pretty pictures - what it looks like doesn’t take from the impact on the village and livelihoods.”

Michael Hackney, director of Memoria Ltd, said: “I think people are worried about traffic and we are able to tell them that the number of services will be three to four per day, with average attendances of about 16 vehicles per service.

“This means there will be about 128 extra vehicle movements per day.

“Yes, it is an increase, but the number of vehicle movements is not huge.

“I think we need to do something about the junction south of Birches Lane and we are perfectly happy to do something about that.

“We don’t want it to be anything other than safe.”

He added: “If we have got people coming from Middlewich and Holmes Chapel, they will not come through Lostock Green.

“The question is how many people will be coming from Northwich and will they come down Penny’s Lane or through Lostock Green.

“I think we should put the signage to encourage people to come through Penny’s Lane.”

FEARS about smoke and smell coming from the site and the land on which it may be built should be laid to rest, according to Memoria Ltd’s director, Michael Hackney.

He said smoke would not be emitted and added: “We have constant monitoring of our emissions and it is all recorded and monitored by the licencing authority.

“If we breach it, we lose our licence.”

He added that new technology meant that no mercury would be emitted from the plant.

Talking of the INEOS land, on which the site may be built, he added: “The Health and Safety Executive give advice to the council on whether they should accept or refuse the application in cases of neighbouring emissions.

“It has said there is no need to recommend refusal because of what is in the ground.”

He also stressed that the site would not be used for burials.

MEMORIA Ltd has a total of 70 years experience in the funeral sector.

It has completed crematoria in Ollerton, Bury, Chorley, Bishop Auckland and Braintree and most recently, Memoria opened a new memorial park and crematorium in the Cardiff and Glamorgan in October 2011.

The company said the Lach Dennis site, if approved, would bring four permanent jobs to the area, specifically targeting people who live in the area.

PLANS for the memorial park and crematorium could be submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) as early as next month.

Michael Hackney, director of Memoria Ltd, said the company would take on board the feedback from the exhibition and hoped to submit a planning application in May.

He added that if the plans were approved, work could begin on-site from February 2013.

LOSTOCK Green resident John Hall said his major concern was the application could set a precedent for further development between the villages of Lostock Green and Lach Dennis.

“My initial concern was that if planning permission was granted, this would set a precedent for further development in this area and turn a green area into an area full of houses or future development.

“it is a bigger issue than just building a crematorium.

“We have two villages, Lach Dennis and Lostock Gralam, and there is nothing in between.

“We put this crematorium geographically in between them and the land can be filled in.

“If planning permission goes through, it is geographically right in the middle, and you can fill that space in.

“It makes it easier for further development.”

He added: “I am not opposed to the crematorium but we need reassurance from the planning authority that this will not set a precedent for any future development and this is one development in this area.”

John stressed that traffic flow management was another of his concerns, which would add to the problems with traffic coming through the village.

“Traffic calming measures for Lostock Green should be put in place to persuade people not to use the village as an access and exit point for the crematorium.”

THE deadline for feedback from residents is today, Wednesday.

To submit your comments, call Memoria Ltd’s freephone number on 0800 112 3540.