CONTROVERSIAL plans to extend Ludford Cemetery, Ludlow, and provide a car park seem likely to find favour with district planners, despite objections from nearby residents.

A previous application for change of use from agricultural land to a cemetery had been turned down because it would worsen access and parking problems at the site. Now the landowner has added a car park for nine cars to his application.

Thirteen letters opposing the plan have come from Ludford residents. In general they complain that the burial site is a commercial venture, the expansion will mean more problems of access and parking and the proposal is detrimental to the Ludford Conservation Area. Residents are also concerned about the risk of crime at the site.

Sorted out

Support for the scheme, 97 letters and a petition, has come not only from the Friends of Ludlford cemetery but also from people in Wolverhampton, Knutsford, Rhayader and Cheadle who visit relatives buried at Ludford and wish to see the car parking problems sorted out.

Mr D Gittins, who owns the site, wants to operate part of it as a green burial site while the church will carry out traditional burials on the other part. The objectors claim green burials would be a commercial operation with very different operating criteria.

In recommending approval, the South Shropshire District Council planning officers say there would be an increase of only 20 or so more funerals per year.

"On balance, the scale of the parking area is considered to be appropriate," said the report to the planning committee. It will provide parking currently lacking and without detriment to the Conservation Area."

Concerns about young people using the car park as a gathering place and causing a nuisance could be addressed by having gates that close at sunset, the officers added. The application was being considered as The Advertiser went to press.