Buses 'not the transport of choice for mourners' - Wolverhampton crematorium inquiry told

Transport planning expert Simon Tucker, speaking in support of the Codsall scheme on the old Wergs Estate, agreed that more buses visited Essington and the train station was nearer.

But he argued buses and trains were 'not the transport of choice for mourners or visitors to a crematorium.'

The planning inquiry is looking into the best location for a new crematorium to serve Wolverhampton and Walsall. South Staffordshire Council rejected both plans in 2015 because they were on green belt land but have had to re-think because of growing pressure on the existing Bushbury service.

The Essington site, proposed by the Westerleigh Group, is just 350 metres from the nearest bus stop on Tintern Crescent, while Bloxwich North train station is just 500m away.

By contrast, buses to the Codsall site are twice-hourly, or one an hour on Sunday, while the nearest station is 2.1km away.

But Mr Tucker, a consultant for David Tucker Associates, said the majority of visits to crematoria were 'trips of remembrance' so that the frequency of public transport was not an issue.

"There is a more frequent service to Essington but in the context of this inquiry, the level of difference is not significant.

"Trips of remembrance are relatively infrequent and are less time-critical. The level of staffing on site is relatively modest, and the level of public transport isn't key to decision-,making."

The inquiry also heard that although Bloxwich North train station was closer to the proposed Essington site, it was not a direct train journey from Wolverhampton, requiring a change of line, resulting in a journey time of one hour and three minutes. Wolverhampton to Codsall, on the other hand, would take just eight minutes by rail.

With the number of funerals rising by 25 per cent over the past three years, the Essington proposal had the ability to relieve pressure on both Streetly and Bushbury, although not until 2025, but only Bushbury could be served by Codsall Wergs.

Both sides must prove that there are special circumstances for their individual schemes because they involve green belt land. Both could get the go ahead but it is likely only one will.

Previously, funeral director Edward Poole, of Cannock-based A.J. Sellman funeral services, revealed that the unavailability of slots between the most popular times of 10.30am and 3pm led to waits of up to three weeks for some families. He said he often advised families to use Stafford Crematorium which has just one chapel, with less likelihood of congestion and ‘impeded tranquillity’.

The inquiry, at South Staffordshire Council's Codsall headquarters, continues.