Fears over environmental risk on natural burial ground plan

Walsall Council planners are expected to grant approval for an increase in the number of burials at a facility on land on Winterley Lane in Rushall when they meet on tomorrow.

But the plan has attracted fierce opposition from residents living nearby who believe the burial ground will have a negative impact on the environment and traffic on the road.

Natural burials are seen as an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional funerals without dead bodies being embalmed or placed in coffins or caskets that won’t bio-degrade.

The facility, based on a former derelict limestone mine last year, was granted approval last year, despite objections, with the provision of carrying out 50 burials a year.

But if the amendment to the condition is agreed, a total of 304 burials – more than six times the original amount – will be allowed to take place each year, with services restricted to one a day.

The applicants had wanted to increase burials to two a day, with services taking place between 10am and 3pm, but have amended that plan after highways officers raised concerns about impact on traffic.

In their original application, planning agent Cemetery Development Services said the burial ground would be an “interesting” way to develop disused brownfield land which would have environmental benefits to the area.

But dozens of residents have made representations to planners arguing against the plan.

One said: “Increase in burials will mean an increase in toxicity of the site as bodies decompose and leak into the canal and adjacent land.”

Another resident said: “Should only apply for extra burials once burial ground up and running and a true assessment can be made once infrastructure is in place and infilling complete.”

Other comments include: “When will the variations end? If you approve this they will just come back for more, trying the wear down the planning procedures.

“It is unacceptable for one burial a week so it’s not acceptable for one a day.

“There is constant fly-tipping and anti social behaviour in Winterley Lane. Site needs to be returned to how it was, looks awful now.

“Winterley Lane is a single track road with no footpath, not wide enough for two vehicles to pass. The narrow bridge wont be able to cope with the increase in traffic, already damaged, by large vehicles ignoring the weight limit.”

A report to committee confirmed that the Environment Agency had raised objections to the plans in terms of its potential impact on water courses.

The report added: “It is also recognised that green burials tend to cause less impact to the surrounding environment – no embalming, single depth burial only, low density and vegetation to aid pollution attenuation.”