PROTESTERS fighting plans to put a new town cemetery on Ipsley Meadow are stepping up their campaign.
Ivan Willock, Ian Pickles and Martin Jones say they have systematically dismantled the council case for the plan and say the easiest, most cost-effective solution is to extend the current Abbey site, close to historic Bordesley Abbey.
“The council hasn’t properly looked at the option to extend the Abbey site,” said Ivan.
“Here just down the hill you have the football pitches, the skate park, the BMX track, how are you going to feel when you are burying your nearest and dearest with all the noise coming up from there?”
“Their traffic assessment was flawed too,” said Ian.
“The vehicle counter was put in above Berrington Close, missing the traffic from Ipsley Manor, the vacant GKN site – which has 240 car parking spaces and will no doubt soon have a new tenant – plus the traffic to the church.
“Whatever happens, there’s going to be an awful lot of cars coming here, and if you want to come by bus you’re in for a long wait as they’re every two hours.”
“Planning is all about making the most efficient use of land,” said Martin, “and the most efficient use of land is to expand the Abbey site.”
The trio add that Ipsley Meadow is a designated open space and say the Matchborough / Ipsley already has a deficit equivalent to five football pitches of public open space.
They also see a contradiction at the heart of the plans – the proposed cemetery is pictured as an open environment yet is budgeted to have fences and a gate.
Another issue, said Ivan, is an overall decline in burials: “Since we have been looking at this cremations have gone from 70 per cent to 80 per cent,” he said.
“It will never be 100 per cent but it would appear there is no longer the urgency to find land to bury hundreds of bodies anymore.”
In response Council Leader Matt Dormer said: “I’m waiting for a response from Historic England regarding the Abbey site.
“I am sure they will ask if we have looked at all the other options, but we will wait and see. Further than that, as this is a live planning application, I cannot really comment.”
