FUNERAL directors have moved to allay concerns over the location of their new premises.

DJ Screen and Sons, which already has a funeral home on Bradford Road near Hillhouse, has opened a second home at the busy junction of Dalton Green Lane and Wakefield Road, Dalton.

One correspondent who contacted the Examiner said: “This seems a strange choice of location for this type of business at such a busy junction in a residential area where the back of the property backs on to homes at two sides.”

The correspondent said it seemed undignified to be carrying coffins in and out of the front door in full view of traffic and pedestrians.

She added: “What about the residents who can look out at anytime of day and potentially observe the latest arrival?

“I know it comes to us all eventually, but this location for this type of business is hardly ideal, is it?”

But company boss Denis Screen defended the move.

He said: “It is a busy junction, and that’s precisely why we chose it.

“It’s a business area – the shops that are alongside the home are open Monday to Saturday and these premises used to be a bank which created a lot more traffic than we will.

“It’s every person’s right to expand their business and try to better themselves.

“Bradford Road isn’t exactly quiet and it doesn’t create any problems. I don’t know of many funeral homes that are tucked away on side streets.”

Mr Screen, who has been in the funeral business for 16 years, added that bereaved families would be dealt with sensitively.

He said: “As far as the dignity of the deceased is concerned, we will be using the front door and they will be in covered coffins at all times.

“I can’t think of anything less dignified than taking a deceased person in and out of the back door.”