Essington crematorium plans prompt speed calls
The speed limit on a South Staffordshire street should be cut if mooted plans for a new crematorium on the route get the go-ahead, says a leading councillor.
The development would be built on land in Essington under plans revealed by South Staffordshire Council yesterday to
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It has been earmarked for a 12-acre site off Broad Lane.
But Councillor David Clifft, chairman of Essington Parish Council, believes that if the plans come to fruition then the current 40mph speed limit on the road should be reduced to 30mph.
He said he 'cautiously welcomed' the proposals for the crematorium which would cater for 1,600 cremations every year as council bosses look to take down waiting times from three weeks to one week.
Councillor Clifft added that he would listen to any concerns residents had about it being created and said: "If there are going to be slow funeral processions on the road then it would be common sense to look at the speed limit."
Councillor Clifft said the burials and cremations situation in the village had gone 'from the sublime to the ridiculous', with plans also being approved last year for a 30,000-large burial site in Bursnips Road.
Last week a site in Strawberry Lane in nearby Great Wyrley was officially opened. A crematorium also opened in Sytch Lane, Wombourne, in 2009.
Councillor Clifft added: "I'll be meeting with residents in the next few weeks to see if they have any concerns over the proposed crematorium and we'll take it from there."
A consultation will be held on the Broad Lane proposals. If the plans go ahead the site would be handed over to specialists Westerleigh Group on a 75-year lease.
