We have been notified of Dignity plc's intention to lodge an appeal against the county council's decision to refuse consent to build a crematorium on land opposite the former brewery site at Castle Eden.
Dignity plc are well aware that their plans to build a crematorium in close proximity to the golf course pose a real risk to public health and safety, and they know that their proposals do not stand up to public scrutiny. They have been refused twice by the county council's planning committee in the past two years and they have already been dismissed on appeal by the national planning inspector (please see post dated Wednesday 3 February 2016 for background details).
However, Dignity plc, knowing that several suitable alternative sites are available within County Durham, appear to consider that their profit margin is more important to them than the wishes of the people of Castle Eden, or even the safety and general well-being of their own customers and staff.
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| The former brewery at Castle Eden, with the golf course and site of the proposed crematorium, directly opposite |
However, Dignity plc, knowing that several suitable alternative sites are available within County Durham, appear to consider that their profit margin is more important to them than the wishes of the people of Castle Eden, or even the safety and general well-being of their own customers and staff.
Given Dignity plc's persistent intransigence we believe it is essential to once more bring together the entire community and coordinate a response strong enough to make sure that this unwanted and unneeded facility is dismissed once and for all by the planning inspector.
We are determined to defeat Dignity plc's plans so we will meet over the next week or so with residents, businesses, members of the parish council and county planners to discuss a way forward.
Further details of the campaign will be published on this site in due course:
TOWN
AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended)
SECTION
78 – NOTIFICATION OF PLANNING APPEAL
Application
reference:
DM/15/01841/FPA
Appeal reference: APP/X1355/W/16/3148225
Name of appellant: Dignity Plc
Site: Land To North Of Castle Eden Brewery Castle Eden
Proposed development: Erection of new cremation facility
comprising a crematorium building, new access road, car parking facilities,
ancillary external areas including gardens and pond
Appeal Start Date: 20 April 2016
The
Local Planning Authority has received notification that the above named
appellant has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against the Local Planning
Authority’s decision to refuse planning
permission.
The
appellant has requested that the appeal be dealt with by the written representations procedure.
Any
representations previously made to the Local Planning Authority prior to the
planning application being decided, other than representations which the maker
has asked to be treated as confidential, will be sent to the Inspectorate and
the appellant. These representations will be considered by the Inspector when
determining the appeal unless, within 28 days of the starting date, the
authority or person who made the representations asks the Inspector to
disregard them.
Any
new representations that you would like to make in relation to this appeal
should be made online via https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/
or in writing, quoting the appeal reference above, and forwarded directly to
the Planning Inspectorate at the address given below.
Representations
should be received by the Inspectorate within 5 weeks of the ‘Appeal Start
Date’ given above. If responding in
writing it is important that 3 copies
of your representations are sent to the Inspectorate. Any representations received after the
deadline will not normally be seen by the Inspector and will be returned.
The
Planning Inspectorate will not acknowledge representations but will ensure that
letters received by the deadline are passed to the Inspector dealing with the
appeal.
The Planning
Inspectorate
3/01B
2
The Square
Bristol
BS1
6PN
The
appeal documents are available for viewing online at http://publicaccess.durham.gov.uk/online-applications/
or at the appropriate Area Planning Office between the hours below:-
Monday – Thursday: 8.30am - 5.00pm and
Friday: 8.30am
– 4.30pm
For further advice on
taking part in the appeal process you may be interested in obtaining a copy of
one of the Planning Inspectorate’s booklets available on-line at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/taking-part-in-a-planning-listed-building-or-enforcement-appealor by contacting the case officer listed above.
The decision will be published
on https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/.
Should you require any
further information please contact the Development Control section on the above
telephone number.
