Traffic concerns as new Shropshire crematorium draws mixed views
Plans for a new crematorium in Shropshire drew a mixed response from the public, with one person saying increased traffic would be "another hit" for their village.
Westerleigh, who develop crematoria across the UK held a consultation event at Nesscliffe Village Hall on Tuesday, where officials spoke with a number of residents about the plans.
Due to crematoriums in Wrexham and Shrewsbury being over subscribed, the plans have been put forward to ease the strain and serve Oswestry and the surrounding areas.
Views on the plans, which will see a building and parkland developed near Nescliffe off the old A5 to the south of the current A5, were split.
Brenda Brooks from Great Ness raised a number of issues, and said on the back of an influx of chicken farms in the area, it was another hit for the community.
She said: "I'm not very pleased about it, traffic will be a problem with more people coming through.
"We pushed for years for the bypass and now the traffic issue could return.
"They say there won't be pollution but there will be with any development like this.
"They are saying this will serve Oswestry, there are other areas closer to Oswestry that would be better for this development.
"We fought the chicken farms, we raised £8,000 to fight one and won, then it went to appeal and it was overturned.
"A lot of people aren't for this, so I hope they are listened to."
Some of her comments were echoed by David Potts from Kinton, who said he isn't against development but there are better areas for a new crematorium.
He added: "I am not against development, we have built a home and others have developed homes.
"But this could be situated somewhere better, it is going to serve communities like Selattyn and Gobowen and there are a lot of open spaces near Oswestry.
"Some people have just moved into new houses, did they know that there were these plans? That is what I would like to know."
Complaints from funeral directors elsewhere have led to the proposals being drawn up, with Westerleigh saying they have been looking at suitable locations for around five years.
David Bates, from Nesscliffe, said he could see no impact on the village.
He said: "I am all for it, there isn't much impact and it is needed because of the lack of other facilities.
"I don't think traffic will be an issue, I can't see a problem."
