CAMPAIGNERS against a proposed crematorium in Thornbury have gained a new ally in their fight, with support from Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall.
Mr Hall attended a meeting of the Crematorium-Residents’ Action Group, along with Cllr Matthew Riddle, leader of South Gloucestershire Council, to discuss concerns over the proposed crematorium at the top of Alveston Hill, adjacent to the busy B4061.
The proposed development, which has yet to be submitted for planning, would include 400 seater auditorium and a 200-space car park as well as an overflow car park with a further 200 spaces.
Following the meeting, Luke Hall said: “A strong case has been made by CRAG as to why this proposal would not work well for both Thornbury and Alveston.
“I am a strong believer in protecting our green belt and keeping our roads safe, so I have written to The Secretary of State Greg Clark asking for some clarification on the legislation surrounding private crematoria on their behalf and will ensure local residents are kept updated.”
Cllr Riddle, who was also at the meeting, said: “I was pleased to attend and during the meeting I heard residents’ concerns regarding the development in the green belt, whether the field was big enough to accommodate the Crematorium and the highway issues down Thornbury Hill.
“If a planning application is received it will be decided by members of the Council’s development control (west) committee who will have to weigh up all the facts before them on the day.”
A spokesman for CRAG said “We feel that the strength of our case and argument as to why this development is inappropriate is getting stronger and stronger, along with the community’s opposition to the idea.
“We feel that the green belt between Thornbury and Alveston should be preserved and we welcome Luke’s support in helping us state the case.”
The group have been distributing leaflets around Thornbury and Alveston in an effort to inform the public and publicise their cause.
Dr Nancy North, a member of the group said: “Not many people have been made aware of the proposed development, so we want to let people know so they can make up their minds.
“The green belt area that they want to build on is special as it fulfils all five criteria purposes of being green belt, which is quite rare.”
“It is also a historic entrance into Thornbury and cutting down the hedgerows would ruin that.”
The five purposes of the green belt are to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another, to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment, to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns, and to assist in urban regeneration.
For more information on the proposed development, visit www.consultingyou.co.uk/thornbury-crematorium.
And for information on CRAG, visit www.craginfo.wordpress.com.