REDDITCH Labour Group has urged any residents objecting to the controversial plans for Ipsley Meadow to be turned into a cemetery to submit their views to the borough council.
The authority’s planning committee voted in favour of the change last October.
There were more than 800 letters of objection prior to the planning committee decision and Redditch Labour said it was backing residents who wanted to stop the work going ahead.
Local authorities must go through a legal process, called land appropriation before starting development on any public open spaces they own, meaning Redditch Borough Council must consider any objections put forward by residents.
Residents now have until October 21 to have their say.
Coun Joanna Kane, Redditch Labour’s shadow portfolio holder for leisure, said: “Ipsley Meadow is a very important part of Arrow Valley Country Park.
“It is well used by residents and visitors for a wide range of recreational activities including dog walking, picnicking, kite flying, running, cycling and paragliding.
“All this will be lost forever if the Conservatives go ahead with their plans.”
Coun Sharon Harvey added: “We know there is an urgent need for more burial space and residents had previously put forward several alternative sites.
“These included expanding and improving the existing Edgioake Cemetery, investigating the possibility of using land at Sillins Lane, and working constructively with Bromsgrove District Council – which shares bereavement services with Redditch – to identify a potential site for residents from both towns.
“But despite promises from the leader of the council, Coun Matt Dormer, that 26 sites would be re-investigated last year, no work was done on any of these three options.”
Coun Dormer said: “The council does need to consider objections but the change of use has been done, this legal process is about the appropriation of the land – it will go to the executive and it is an executive decision.
“People have come to terms with the fact this is going to be a cemetery and there is nowhere else.
“This is the best decision for the people of Redditch otherwise it’s likely they will be buried in Bromsgrove.
“We absolutely welcome people to send in their messages.
“I revisited many sites and not one of them was feasible.
“The cemetery at Astwood Bank can’t be expanded, there is private land which the owner is not interested in selling.
“This cemetery will be purely for the people of Redditch.”
People can send their objections via email to [email protected] or send a letter to Michael Birkinshaw, Bereavement Services Manager, Redditch Borough Council, Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square, Redditch B98 8AH.
