Eco-burial ground is rejected
LORTON residents were celebrating this week after controversial plans for a green burial ground in the valley were turned down by a Government inspector.
Wenda Fabian made the decision after she conducted an appeal last month into the plans by Essex firm Green Woodland Burial Services to create 3,000 burial plots on a site near Shatton Hall Farm.
The firm appealed after the plan was turned down by the Lake District National Park Authority last April.
Dr Brian Herd, one of the principal objectors, said: “It’s great news. Everyone I’ve spoken to is delighted and we all hope that this is the end of the matter.
“The public hearing was packed, and no-one, apart from the developer and his agents, spoke in favour of the proposal.
“The unanimous strength of opinion against the idea was impressive – more than 90 letters of objection were received by the Lake District National Park Authority.”
Ms Fabian concluded that the proposal would harm the character and appearance of the surrounding open countryside, contrary to local and national policy.
She was concerned that “insufficient careful thought” had been given to the effect of the proposal on the landscape of the National Park.
She found that activity on site could be substantially larger than the low-key proposal suggested.