No South Staffordshire crematorium after four plans refused

All four crematoriums earmarked for Essington, Perton, Wergs and Four Crosses have been rejected by planners.

South Staffordshire Council had been expected to approve one of the applications - the Four Crosses site at the famous Truckers Rest cafe - but all four were thrown out.

There were concerns over whether South Staffordshire actually needed a crematorium and the loss of green belt land.

After it was announced last week that the Four Crosses site was set to be approved, the council received four objection letters on the grounds of unsuitable location, noise pollution, and fears over contamination in a nearby fishing pool, canal and stream.

Members of the council's planning committee who conducted a site visit believed the land was not suitable to build on due to its green belt classification and damage left from previous developments constructed without council knowledge.

The design of the proposed Four Crosses crematorium

Councillor Roger Lees said: "It would get rid of the HGVs that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week in that area, which would benefit the environment and residents.

"However, the site is on green belt land and we don't like to see developments on areas of that nature."

Councillor Bernard Williams also suggested refusal of the application due to its green belt classification.

It was believed the Essington crematorium 'would upset two communities'

He said: "This council tells all of the people who vote for us that we are here to protect their green belt and we wouldn't be doing that if we accepted this application."

Boss of Tough Guy endurance challenge, Billy Wilson, had his application for a 'forest crematorium' in Perton refused after suggestions it may cause traffic problems on Jenny Walkers Lane.

Prior to the meeting it was thought that the planned Perton Crematorim would be refused

Councillor Keith James also said it would affect "one of the most beautiful parts of South Staffordshire".

Dignity UK, the largest provider of funeral services in the UK, put forward a proposition for a £3.5 million crematorium in Wergs, which they said would host up to 1,000 funerals a year.

Dignity's planning consultant Patrick Downes, from Harris Lamb, said: "There is nothing to be lost and much to be gained by accepting our proposal and we believe that the public need for a crematorium at this site is there."

However, Councillor Robert Marshall said: "In this case, the cons seriously outweigh the pros.

"The development would clearly be harmful to the green belt because in essence you would be taking a piece of protected land and building on it.

"This application does not fulfill the special circumstances criteria where we would allow that to happen."

The concerns for the Wergs site centered on

The scheme for Broad Lane, Essington, spearheaded by the Westerleigh Group and planned to contain a chapel which can seat 112 people, was turned down on the basis that the bulk of its business would come from Walsall.

All four applicants were left disappointed after a meeting where Councillor David Clifft said: "We have debated every possible angle on building crematoriums in our area and have accepted none of the proposals made."