Concern at natural burial site plans (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Concern at natural burial site plans

10:26am Wednesday 30th April 2008

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Grave concerns about plans for a natural burial site have prompted worried locals to campaign against the proposal.

Peter Walker and Julia Horton-Powdrill's plans for a natural burial site, storage barn and parking area at Castle Hill, Newport, have met with fierce opposition from the local community.

Fears about traffic problems and water contamination have led residents to start a petition against the proposal, which would be sited on the slopes of Carn Ingli.

Local resident John Davies said: "There is a great deal of emotion about this issue.

"The road up to the site is terrible. It is the main route to the mountain for walkers, and there could be a fatality there."

Over 100 signatures have been collected, and numerous letters of objection have been sent to the National Park.

The site, which is part of a 10 acre field and could hold up to 500 bodies, would be the third privately owned natural burial site in Wales.

The applicants have hit back at claims that the proposal would be detrimental, and say a buffer zone will protect the two nearby streams.

Several bodies have already visited the site, including the Environment Agency, highways, and archeological organisations, and the applicants are happy to comply with their recommendations.

Mr Walker pointed out that the town cemetery and church yard are on slopes, close to houses and have restricted parking.

He said: "It will probably just be a handful of people a year. There is no intention for people to drive up here in huge numbers for funerals.

Produce grown above the site will be sold locally, and there are plans to gift the land to the town and wildlife trust in the future.

Julia Horton-Powdrill said: "We want to involve the community, and want people to come up here and enjoy it."

Almost 50 locals squeezed into Newport Town Council's chambers while the planning committee discussed the application on Friday.

The unanimous decision to recommend refusal was applauded and cheered by members of the public.

Chairman Peter Harwood said: "We were unconvinced that the proposal was acceptable. There is a lack of certainty about access and concern about water courses."

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