FURIOUS residents in Radcliffe are seeking to block proposed plans to build a crematorium which they claim will be situated "right on their doorsteps" and will cause disruption to their lives.

Bury Leisure chiefs have already submitted plans outlining Radcliffe's first crematorium to be situated on the land next to the cemetery.

Such plans have alarmed local residents who fear that the value of their houses will fall drastically.

And that they will face continuous disruption from traffic to and from the crematorium.

Brain and Bernie Hampson on Meadowside Close, near to where the Crematorium will be situated told the Journal: "We are very angry at the proposed plans, the building of the crematorium will bring huge volumes of traffic in to the residential areas.

"All we will see day in day out are funeral processions."

They continued: "Most people around her have small children, and with the amount of traffic that will pass through , they just won't be able to go out."

The couple who have lived there two years are furious at the way the council told them about the plans.

Said Mrs Hampson: "When we moved here we knew we would be situated near a cemetery, but we had no idea that we would be living near the crematorium.

"Our neighbours who moved here in December had no idea that they would be living next door to this until just a few weeks ago."

Local residents have organised a petition against the plans, and have visited the Town Hall to lodge their protest.

Harry Taylor who lives on the same close however feels that the concerns over the building of the crematorium are unfounded and insists the arguments against the proposed plans are ridiculous.

Mr Taylor who supports the proposed crematorium told the Journal: "The crematorium would mean a great deal to Radcliffe and would not cause the problems that people have said it would.

"It will not spoil the area or cause major disruptions around here.

"If anything it will bring money in to the town and save on the funeral costs for the people around here."

Mr Taylor believes that the traffic problem could be solved if Cemetery Road, which is presently closed off is made wider and reopened which will leave residential areas free from traffic going to the crematorium.

Deputy Leader of the Council Derek Boden, told the Journal: "I understand that the building of the crematorium is an emotive issue, but the facts must be looked at first before any action can be taken.

"And I will be looking at the plans in the near future to see what action if any should be taken."

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