New crematorium scheme for Cannock

Cannock is to get its first crematorium under plans revealed today.

The facility is earmarked for land next to the Truckers Rest on the A5.

Under the proposals, a £300,000 crematorium, chapel and a 75-space car park will be built just behind the truck stop.

Bosses there say the scheme will not affect them and the cafe , which opened in the 1950s, will remain open.

A separate access road will be built for the crematorium.

Footpaths and a memorial garden with a water feature at its centre is also included in the proposed scheme.

If approved, the crematorium will be open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sundays from 10am to 1pm.

Cannock Chase Council leader George Adamson today welcomed the plans.

He said: "This is definitely needed in Cannock.

"The nearest crematorium at the moment is either Stafford or Streetly. I know at certain times of the year there is a long wait for families especially around winter so this would certainly help with that."

In plans to the district council from the applicant Aamer Waheed it states the scheme will create an 'attractive and tranquil environment for visitors.'

The proposals state: "The building design is innovative and will provide a well-designed and attractive building, which would be aesthetically pleasing and have no adverse impact on the surrounding environment."

Six full-time jobs will be created if the crematorium is given the go-ahead. At the Truckers Rest site currently is a lorry car park and cafe.

It emerged last week that the £300,000 extension of a cemetery in Rugeley has been hit by delays.

Work at the Stile Cop Cemetery, Rugeley, was due to start in the spring, but council bosses say it has taken more planning than anticipated. Work is expected to start next year.

A total of 1,200 plots, at a cost of £300,000, will be created at the site to cope with demand.Elsewhere in the Black Country, work has now started on the £1.3million revamp of Rowley Regis Crematorium.

It is being updated to enable it to accommodate larger groups of mourners.

Other crematoriums in Staffordshire are in Fradley near Lichfield or Burton. A decision on the Cannock plans is likely to be made in January.