Controversial bid for new Shropshire crematorium set for go-ahead

Westerleigh, which runs crematoria across the UK, wants to site the crematorium and its chapel on land off the A5 in Nesscliffe between Shrewsbury and Oswestry.

Funeral directors say the extra facility, which would be open between 9am and 5pm on weekdays and on Saturday mornings, is very much needed in the county. But residents and the local parish council say it is the wrong site.

Shropshire Council's north planning committee will debate the application on Wednesday.

Great Ness and Little Ness Parish Council says the site is not well placed to serve the population of the county.

Parish councillors are worried about traffic, the visual impact, the setting of Nesscliffe Hill and the open countryside. The views have also been echoed by 17 local residents.

One said the A5 either side of the site is one of the most congested roads around Shrewsbury and this will only make the congestion worse. Traffic approaching the crematorium from the north and east will use narrow country lanes, another says.

Although the planned crematorium is within 700 metres of an iron age hillfort on Nesscliffe Hill, an ancient monument, History England says that it will not have a direct impact on the hillfort.

Elderly

The Ministry of Defence also raised issues about the affect that its low flying helicopter training may have on the crematorium and Shropshire Council's country parks team said the development will spoil the view from Oliver's Point on Nesscliffe Hill.

In a report to the meeting planning officer Kelvin Hall says the elderly population of Shrewsbury is set to grow by 54 per cent up to the year 2041.

The current cremation rate is 79 per cent and is set to rise over this period.

"It is accepted that a funeral cortege should not have to travel more than 30 minutes to reach the crematorium and there is a large geographical area which is beyond that time," he says.

"This is estimated to encompass around 35,000 people."

The report also says that on average over the last three years both the Shrewsbury and Wrexham crematoria have been operating at 110 per cent of their practical capacity.

"The consequence is congestion around the building and car park leading to a mix of funeral parties . The average delay to funerals at Shrewsbury and Wrexham is three to four weeks, with this being worse in winter," he says.

Mr Hall is recommending approval with several conditions.

If given the go-ahead work could start on the facility new year.