Concerns over £9m funeral facility

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS on East Riding Council have said financial details for a new authoritybuilt crematorium should be seen by senior councillors before it goes to planning this autumn.

A Cabinet meeting earlier this month gave the go-ahead to progress plans for the £9m facility on a council-owned field between the villages of Preston and Sproatley, in Holderness.

At a full council meeting this week, Liberal Democrat councillor David Nolan said he wanted a report with the business case for the crematorium to go to cabinet as a “matter of urgency”.

He claimed that there could be an issue with financial viability of the facility, as the other two crematoria in the East Riding and a number of principal undertakers are owned by the same company Dignity.

Coun Nolan asked to see a detailed fiscal plan, mentioned in the Cabinet report, but was told it was commercially sensitive.

The councillor told the meeting: “We support the principle of a crematorium in Holderness, but until our concerns about financial viability are addressed we will be abstaining.”

He said yesterday: “It’s a £9m project and there’s going to be running costs – let’s make sure we have done the sums.”

The meeting also heard from Conservative councillor John Dennis, who represents South West Holderness. He said convincing residents that it was not a “done deal” was proving difficult.

Traffic has long been an issue in Preston and the possibility of a bypass had been mooted for years without success. Coun Dennis said: “We seem to find funding for road scenes elsewhere – the Beverley bypass and Jock’s Lodge – why not South Holderness?”

A council spokesman said a consultation had started, which should run until September, before plans are submitted. Subject to planning approval, a business case will be developed to go to the cabinet early next year.