A NEW cemetery for Huddersfield has got the go-ahead from Kirklees Council’s Cabinet – despite fierce objections.
Protesters argued the site in Farnley Hey was too close to the landmark site of Castle Hill and also on a site battered by strong winds.
But despite the strong opposition from residential and civic groups, councillors voted unanimously to develop the site near Castle Hill.
The decision now kick-starts the planning application, which is likely to be approved.
With the cemeteries in Almondbury and Lockwood expected to reach capacity within the next two years, bereavement services officials had considered a range of sites.
But in a cabinet meeting yesterday, councillors agreed that the nine-acre site at Hey Lane, Farnley Hey, was the most suitable.
An original site in Fenay Bridge was proposed in 2008 and 2009 but was rejected due to escalating costs.
Opponents of the Farnley Hey plan included ward councillors Julie Stewart-Turner and Andrew Cooper.
Clr Cooper told the meeting: “There are visual concerns with the cemetery being in this area. It is sensitive to the people of Huddersfield and Castle Hill is an icon of Huddersfield.”
He also identified the lack of available land as the “elephant in the room” and questioned people’s desires to be buried when there were other options available.
Other objections came from Barbara Lockwood, of Castle Hill Civic Associates, who delivered a presentation on Castle Hill as a tourist attraction.
She said: “Every year 12,000 people visit Castle Hill to admire the stunning views.
“It is a tourist honey-pot site.”
She said the proposed site would be totally unsuitable for mourners.
“It would be the highest cemetery at 750 feet above sea level. Lockwood only reaches 150 feet.
“Castle Hill experiences high winds and any floral tributes would be blown a quarter of a mile down the mountain.
“Visiting a loved one’s grave would be an unpleasant experience for mourners.”
The Hey Lane site will allow for around 7,500 burials and includes
500 lawn burial plots
Car parking facilities for 60 cars and two coaches
Spoil and waste storage
A flagged sanctum area
200 plots for Muslim burials
According to the report put before councillors yesterday, the site will act as a replacement for burials at Lockwood, Almondbury and Kirkheaton which currently amount to 120 burials per year.
That number is expected to rise to 200 burials per year due to the post-war population boom and also as the Muslim population rises in Kirklees, as people of Muslim faith are buried not cremated.
Clr Peter McBride assured objectors that there were likely to be only four burials per week amounting to around 200 per year.
Council Leader Mehboob Khan said if the proposed site was in an area of high residential or employment population, there would be greater objections.
He said: “We have a duty to provide burial spaces and this site is well away from residential and business developments, so it will give visitors the maximum peace and tranquility.
“We will now progress to the next stage, which is a planning application about which anyone can express their views.”
