Staffordshire MP relieved over crematorium verdict
A South Staffordshire MP has spoke of his relief after all four applications to build a crematorium were thrown out.
All four crematoriums earmarked for Essington, Perton, Wergs and Four Crosses were rejected by planners at a meeting this week.
South Staffordshire Council had been expected to approve one of the applications – the Four Crosses site at the well-known Truckers Rest cafe – but all four were refused.
Gavin Williamson MP said: "I think what the council have decided should be considered fantastic news. The developments proposed, including the one recommended for approval, would have classed as an intrusion on to green belt land and I would question whether that is something we want to be doing.
"I think the rejections are to be welcomed and a lot of people will be pleasantly surprised.
"The planning committee have done the right thing, listened to the thoughts of local people and have come to a sensible decision."
The Four Crosses proposal would have seen a crematorium, chapel and 75-space car park built on the site where the Trucker's Rest cafe currently sits and has done for more than 50 years.
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.
All four plans were eventually thrown out by bosses due to concerns over whether South Staffordshire needed a crematorium and the loss of green belt land.
Mr Williamson had previously labelled considering four applications at once as 'barking mad'. However, he expressed sympathy with council bosses and said: "It was always obvious that these applications would intrude on green belt land and the concerns over need would have been easy to get to the bottom of.
"The council have to consider all of these applications, however, a lot of time was probably wasted in this case.
"The main thing is that the concerns of local people have been listened to."
