A new hall of remembrance to host funerals is to be built at an expanded cemetery. Bolton Council were granted planning permission this week construct the single storey building within the grounds of Heaton Cemetery,
accessed from Overdale Road at what is commonly known as the ‘New Overdale Cemetery’.
Documents put before Bolton Council’s planning committee, said: “Permission is sought for the erection of a ‘Hall of Remembrance’ on the western side of Overdale Drive within a landscaped area of Heaton Cemetery extension.
“This part of the cemetery site is in the early stage of usage, but the site along with the internal road and pathway layout, has been set out to allow for expansion, and for the provision of additional burial plots, which will be utilised in the future.
“Giving consideration to the future needs of the site and community, the requirement for a ‘Hall of Remembrance’ building has been identified.
“The building will be simple in its form, and will provide a place of shelter to accommodate mourners, and to hold small prayer services.”
The site is close to the existing Overdale crematorium.
The site is not designated as greenbelt, but as ‘protected open land’ so the council said the building has been designed to minimise impact on the surrounding area.
The area at the rear of the building would be developed as a planting and woodland area, creating screening around the building and to the cemetery.
The gross footprint area of the proposed building is 291 square metres.
READ MORE : Police charge man with string of burglary and theft offences
Two letters of objection were received raising issues of ‘traffic and congestion’ and ‘inadequate access to the site’.
Planning officers, said: “The proposal would not alter the existing site access or car parking arrangements on site, which have previously been determined to be satisfactory.
“It is not anticipated that the proposal would give rise to a significant increase in traffic and congestion in the locality.
Another objection cited ‘noise and pollution’ to which the council responded that ‘given the use of the site as a cemetery and proposal for a hall of remembrance, it is not likely that the proposal would give rise to an adverse increase in noise and pollution’.
Councillors unanimously approved the scheme.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- Ex-footballer detained at Manchester Airport over drugs operation faces losing property empire
- Boy, 14, warned of being 'stabbed up' before bag stolen at Greater Manchester bus station
- Woman in her 60s rushed to hospital amid Canal Street 'brawl'
- 'I came back from holiday to find I'd lost everything I'd ever worked for... even my cat'
- Nicola Bulley’s sister speaks out against police theory saying there's ‘no evidence’
