Crematorium decision disappoints residents
In the letter in last Wednesday’s Observer (January 17, 2018) regarding the proposed crematorium at Bannockburn, Miss Rhona Peet accuses John Fowler of “continual nimbyism” and goes on to state that she“does not see anyone else from his group making any comments”. This is not true.
Every time John Fowler has given his view it has been as a representative of the 274 resident objectors who have homes closest to the site and the 60 electronic petition signers who were opposed to this development.
Bannockburn Community Council raised objections as did farmers whose working fields wrap around the site and whose private farm access road is shown in the developer’s plans as part of the crematorium site. There were also eight individual objections from residents of Bannockburn.
As one of the objectors, along with my husband, we had a letter printed in the Observer on December 20, 2017, addressing the claims made by Rev Renwick but that does not stop Miss Peet from wrongly singling out Mr Fowler and accusing him of“attacking Rev Colin Renwick and a Dunblane undertaker”– she clearly missed our reply. I t also begs the question - when did replying to charges that are directed to you via the local press get defined as an attack?
John Fowler was unanimously selected by the objectors to present our case on Thursday at the Planning Panel in Bannockburn.
Miss Peet refers to an absence of comment from Stirling Council. Stirling Council, to the best of my knowledge, do not comment to the press on live planning applications when the application is undergoing approval procedures as they have to remain impartial.
Miss Peet claims to be“sure the company behind the proposal will have looked at how the road issue can be resolved”what, I wonder, does she base this certainty on?
The company clearly have to lay out their access and exit plans for the site which is designed to accommodate 189 people at any one funeral with 116 car parking spaces. Whether the traffic mitigation works or not remains to be seen. In my book, up to six funerals per day over six days of the week, with potential attendances of up to 116 cars plus the funeral cortege is a lot of slow moving cortege traffic on already busy roads which are heavily used by HGV lorries, farm trucks and emergency services.
Miss Peet wonders“if Mr Fowler has ever been to Seafield Crematorium in Edinburgh”which she identifies as“always smelling of the sewage works – and no one complains about that”. Is that the best reason to justify suitable site location for a crematorium – that the Bannockburn site won’t be as smelly as the Edinburgh site”– surely dignity in death and bereavement should be preserved at all times.
As to Miss Peet’s charge of nimbyism I would suggest that she looks to herself and the eight letters of support the proposal received which came from outwith the Bannockburn area. This alone has always suggested to the residents of Bannockburn that it was fine with non-residents to stick a crematorium in Bannockburn as it saves your local councillors looking to site it at your front door.
I would suggest it is always helpful to have, at the very least, a basic understanding of what you are commenting on before committing pen to paper for publication in the local press.
Unfortunately for Bannockburn, the planning application has been approved with a few conditions/ amendments. I would like to take this opportunity to thank John Fowler for all his hard work and effort over the last five years. He conducted himself with aplomb and dignity at all times and truly represented the views of the people who live and work in Bannockburn and enjoy calling this historic village home. A note of thanks to Councillor Bennison and Councillor Brisley who represented the view’s of their Bannockburn wards with great skill at the hearing and Councillor Kane for showing understanding of the concerns.
It is deeply disappointing to be left with the feeling that local communities are not being listened to and big business wins again: how many signatures and objections does it take for local concerns to be taken on board?
Lynn Fraser Bannockburn.