Mortuary to go ahead

A former Black Country bank will be turned into a mortuary despite protests from hundreds of residents and concerns from the council's highways boss.

Asian Funeral Services Smethwick Ltd applied to turn a vacant bank in High Street in the town into a funeral parlour. The plans were approved at a meeting of Sandwell Council's planning committee last night, despite Steve Rowe, speaking on behalf of the highways department, saying the scheme should be turned down.

He claimed hearses would have to reverse in and out which could cause a hazardous situation in the street.

A total of 420 people signed a petition against the plans, and residents said the business would cause them a lack of privacy and claimed it would not be in-keeping with the rest of the premises there.

There were also concerns that children living nearby could be upset by coffins going in and out of the premises.

However, spokesman for the company, Ashley Savell-Boss, told last night's meeting: "There is more room at this site than there was at another premises we used in Smethwick. I am confident there is enough room to safely get a hearse in and out."

Councillors decided to back the scheme even though it went against the opinion of the highways officer.

Concerns were also raised about the lack of car parking and increase in congestion caused by the parlour.

West Midlands Police has asked for a condition to be added to the plans so funeral cars could not take up spaces meant for public use.

Sandwell Homes, which is responsible for the borough's council housing stock, also objected to the scheme amid fears it will mean a high volume of traffic using the already busy High Street.

A waiting room, chapel of rest, mortuary and office will be created as part of the plans. A report to the committee described the building as having "significant architectural detailing" which would not be greatly altered by the development.