A PETITION has been launched to campaign against proposals for a multi-faith burial ground in the Ribble Valley.

More than 1,000 people have already supported the online petition against the plan for the 10,000-capacity natural burial ground in Langho.

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It comes after hundreds of people packed into Billington and Langho Community Centre last week to hear the developer’s plans.

Electric caddies would take cadavers in wicker caskets around the sprawling site and golf buggies would be deployed to transport the bereaved at the eco-friendly 27-acre project.

The landscaped grounds, complete with water features, 5,000 trees, 3,000 shrubs, 18,000 bulbs and 1,000 aquatic plants, would feature few granite or marble headstones as it is developed gradually in phases over a 90-year cycle.

Thirty metres of hedgerows would be removed to improve sightlines to the burial ground.

The plan has not yet been submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council for approval, but 400 people attended a public meeting last week to discuss the scheme.

Commenting on the petition Annie-Marie Tomlinson, from Whalley, said: “No matter the religion or race, there is quite enough building in this area as it is.

“We live and drive on narrow, winding country roads which can not support heavy parking demands and additional traffic.

“The elderly, disabled and children are at the greatest risk of accidents.

“There are plenty of disused buildings in the towns, so it’s a far superior concept to consider using those areas than the rural villages.

“Ribble valley residents pay premium property prices to live on the green belt and all this additional development is not what we paid for.”

Fellow commenter Christine Dickinson from Mellor said: “We do not need this in the Ribble Valley.

“Its not in keeping with the area and the roads are not suitable for the huge amount of traffic this would generate.”

Brockhall Village resident Ian Barnes also said: “I object as this area already suffers from traffic issues, with Northcote manner expanding, Northcote stables expanding and Northcote playing fields will now be in more regular use with the new drains.