Anger over plans to build £3m Walsall cemetery
Almost 300 angry residents confronted council bosses over a proposed £3 million private cemetery near their homes during a heated public meeting.
The protesters won two extra weeks to submit objections after many said they had not had consultation notices. Chief planning officer Andrew Thompson told a packed community hall at Rushall Church that the plan for an 8,000 plot graveyard in Aldridge Road, Walsall, would almost certainly not go ahead because of flooding and contamination.
But that did little to comfort the residents who said they were prepared for an appeal by applicant Aamer Waheed, boss of Springhill Cemetery, the firm behind the plan.
Businessman Suky Samra, of the Residents Against the Cemetery Campaign group, said: "This is going to be a long battle."
The sometimes stormy meeting was chaired by Councillor Bob Barnard who said: "The strength of feeling here has been enormous."
Traffic
Protestors tackled council officers over potential traffic problems in what one resident described as a "flagship area of Walsall."
There were jeers of derision when highways officer Colin Whitehouse said a survey indicated that the average funeral only generated nine vehicles.
People also reacted angrily when he suggested that Aldridge Road, a dual carriageway, could be reduced to single lane or traffic-calming measures installed to combat congestion in the area.
Councillors Mohammed Arif and Imran Azam were forced to defend themselves against accusations of bias after admitting the applicant was a friend.
Councillor Arif said: "Just because someone is a good friend or is known to me doesn't mean I can do favours for them."
A petition opposing the cemetery has reached 1,200 signatures while 98 letters have been written.
