£9m crematorium plan is put on hold
NEARBY RESIDENT WARNS OF TRAFFIC WOES
PLANS to build a new £9m crematorium in a Holderness village have been put on hold pending an independent traffic review after a resident warned it could “exacerbate” congestion.
East Riding Council’s Planning Committee deferred plans for the crematorium after resident David Iles said it was the “right development in the wrong place”.
Council project development manager Gail Cahill told the committee 93 per cent of around 1,600 respondents to a consultation on the plans said they supported them.
Council plans for the crematorium, off Lelley Road in Preston, were drawn up to fill what the local authority claims is a gap in services in the Holderness area.
Ms Cahill said the traffic review, to examine the crematorium’s impact on Lelley Road and Sproatley Road, was requested to address concerns of almost 10 per cent of consultation respondents. But Mr Iles said the crematorium’s location close to the centre of Preston meant the impact of traffic on those roads and others in the village would be “considerable”.
He said: “We’re concerned that traffic on Main Street would get worse and that roads coming off it would be used as rat runs.
“The council needs to sort out traffic infrastructure and drainage systems, which would be inadequate to cope with the crematorium.
“Highways improvements are needed, safe access to this is critical.”
South West Holderness ward member Cllr John Dennis told the committee there should be some “give and take” on the plans, including looking at road improvements.
Cllr Dennis said: “The situation on Preston’s roads would not be improved with this crematorium, it could be a recipe for disaster.
“Road improvements should be carried out before it goes ahead, traffic calming measures are definitely required.
“The crematorium would mean people wouldn’t have to take the distressing journey across Hull to go to Chanterlands Avenue for services.
“But residents deserve conditions so these plans will not increase burdens on them.”
Ms Cahill said the new crematorium would mean people living in Holderness would not have to travel more than an hour for services as they do currently.
There are currently two private crematoria in the East Riding and one run by Hull City Council in Chanterlands Avenue.
Ms Cahill said: “Travelling across Hull creates unnecessary distress for the bereaved.
“This will provide a place for local residents to celebrate the lives of their loved ones. Around 90 per cent of funeral directors who responded to our consultation said they would use the crematorium. Waiting times at other crematoria can be as high as four weeks, the need for one here is compelling.”
Committee chair Cllr David Tucker said: “This is a very robust and needed application, residents in that area are crying out for a local crematorium.
“Highways officers have said the impact on roads will be reasonable, but based on concerns from ward councillors this independent review has been called.
“The review should put these issues to bed, and we as a committee can decide on the plans when we see its findings.”