Increase in natural burials planned at Walsall
Owners of a natural burial ground in Walsall have caused outrage after changing plans for the site from 50 burials a year to two every day.
The application to vary the approved plans at the site in Rushall have led to fears nearby roads will be overrun with traffic.
The controversial plans were initially approved in November last year for the former limestone mining site in Winterley Lane.
A petition against the plan gained more than 600 signatures but it was given the green light by councillors.
Now a new application has been submitted to Walsall Council to increase the number of burials allowed per year to a maximum of two a day, to take place between the hours of 10am and 3pm with 90 minute interval between services.
In the plans, it estimates the maximum number of burials at the site to be between 350 and 400 per year.
It adds: "This proposal requests an increase in numbers to a maximum of two burials per day in keeping with local and community needs and ensuring compliance with groundwater and highways safety stipulations."
But nearby residents have expressed concerns that the 'narrow' roads will not be able to cope.
One resident said: "The increase in numbers will mean contamination risks are greatly escalated and the narrow lane that the site is on will have to deal with up to 144,000 extra vehicle movements per annum.
"These figures are taken from the supporting documentation submitted by the applicant where they estimate 50 vehicles per funeral, so into and out of the site that is 100 vehicle movements per funeral at two per day. That is 200 additional movements per day, times 720 the number of burials per annum, equals 144,000.
"Winterley Lane is a narrow lane that cannot support this amount of additional traffic."
A decision will be made on the plans in the coming months.
