Your Letters: A burial site, Redditch zoo and travel plans - The Redditch Standard

Your Letters: A burial site, Redditch zoo and travel plans

Redditch Editorial 12th Sep, 2020 Updated: 12th Sep, 2020   0

IT has been brought to my notice that there is a rumour circulating in Ipsley and Matchborough that St Peter’s Church in Ipsley has lobbied for and instigated the planned change of use for the field opposite St Peter’s Church to accommodate the new cemetery.

I wish to assure the residents of these areas and indeed all concerned citizens that the Church is not and and never has been either involved in the movement or process leading to this point.

This is purely a rumour and not at all true.

We will be lodging our objections to this proposed change of use and will be standing with and speaking up on behalf of our community in Ipsley and Matchborough and Winyates in preserving this field as a place of vital use by our community for recreation.




Canon Nathaniel, Rector of Ipsley


REGARDING your recent article about the proposed burial site in Ipsley Redditch Standard).


For Councillor Brandon Clayton to claim that this site ‘fits all the criteria’ is disingenuous at the very least.

‘The New Cemetery Report’ of December 2, 2010 clearly identified the following areas of concern with this site:

“Presence of tournament standard Skate Board Park/BMX Track which has potential to host major National and European competitions and festivals; a relatively narrow width of lane; potential archaeological issues stemming from the proximity of the church; borehole and well in centre of site; loss of existing amenity; poor drainage at the lower end, and the proximity of football pitches; Public Right of Way through the middle; possible new entrance required and widening of Ipsley Church Lane probably necessary. Councillor Clayton was the relevant portfolio holder at the time, as he is now, so is well aware of these issues.”

With regard to the poor drainage issue and the presence of a borehole and well in the centre of the meadow, Local Plan 4 (adopted January 2017) clearly states in Section 45 that ideally any proposed site should meet all of several criteria.

Criteria (iv) states that the site should be -‘in an area that is not currently prone or likely to become prone to water logging.

Burials shall take place within the unsaturated zone and not within a minimum distance of 250 metres of any potable supply (including wells and boreholes); 30 metres from any surface watercourse, spring or pond; and 10 metres of any field drain.’

It is also of note that at least one of the other proposed sites had a sloping aspect listed as a disadvantage. Ipsley Meadow is a on a considerable slope, hence the drainage issues at the lower end.

If that is considered to be an ideal site, I would love to know what he considers an inappropriate site. Burial at sea maybe?

The reality here, is that the Council is not required to purchase the land and that fact has overtaken any other consideration.

Never mind the incalculable cost of the loss of an amenity which possibly has the best views in Redditch and which is used by a considerable number of people from throughout the town.

If the Council were required to purchase a site, they could wore than get their money back through the sale of the burial plots.

Rather than accept that, they would rather take away a part of the Arrow Valley parkland, so that ultimately they will make more money from the sale of the plots.

S Williams, Redditch


MONDAY, August 31, Drive and Live at the Abbey Stadium – a great show from Indigo Arts: Four solo performers, followed by a polished performance from The Violettes.

Nearly one hour of great songs – Mabel’s Don’t Call Me Up, Bananarama’s Venus, an amazing version of En Vogue’s What’s It Gonna Be …

well done to the Drive and Live staff.

Ray, Redditch


SO SAD to see that there may be yet another zoo in the Midlands (Redditch Standard).

Martin Blythe tells us it will be educational and for the conservation of the animals.

But like all zoos they are prisons for animals so that people can gawp at them.

The only way to help endangered animals is to protect their habitat in the wild.

How is it educating children to view animals in the unnatural environment of zoos?

Zoo without bars?

They will still be in enclosures and 300 animals on 30 acres is hardly the African Savannah or a rainforest.

Zoos are for human entertainment so why pretend otherwise.

M Burgess, Malvern


I WAS interested to read that Councillor Mike Rouse has spoken out against the Conservatives at Worcestershire County Council for being ‘intransigent’ over active travel plans.

Intransigence is the refusal to change one’s views, and I feel sorry that he has four members of his own Redditch Conservatives borough councillor team who refuse to recognise the benefits of cycle and walking routes for Redditch.

It must be difficult to be an obedient county councillor when borough council aims are contradictory!

Does Coun Rouse not understand that Couns Brandon Clayton, Juliet Brunner, Tom Baker-Price and Roger Bennett can’t possibly rock the Worcestershire Conservative boat, just because Redditch needs better cycle routes?

It just shows that when it comes to priorities then it’s always Conservative party loyalty before the needs of Redditch town.

S Harvey, Southcrest

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