4:29pm Tuesday 15th June 2010
By Laura Nesbitt
PLANNERS say crucial highways issues must be ironed out before a controversial new crematorium near Highbridge gets the go-ahead.
Today, Sedgemoor District Council's development control committee deferred a decision on the proposed crematorium in Stretcholt.
Some councillors said its proposed location, on Red Lane just off the busy A38, was dangerous, even though the developer, Westerleigh Group, proposed highways improvements.
Cllr David Preece said the site could become gridlocked during larger funerals, while Cllr Neville Jones added: “I think this is a very dangerous site indeed for a crematorium - unless they are looking for customers.”
In a further complication, a proposed hotel nearby, which was given planning permission in 1992 but which has never been finished, would have its entrance very near the Red Lane junction.
Cllr Bob Filmer told the meeting: “We are almost there, but we need this clarified because if we get it wrong we will have a big problem on our hands.”
Westerleigh Group's Adrian Briton said he believed the added traffic would be minimal - an average of 20 vehicles per hour.
He added that overall traffic in the area could actually be reduced, with funeral-goers no longer needing to drive to Weston or Taunton.
Highways chiefs will now carry out a detailed transport assessment before returning to the committee to make a decision.
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