Crematorium planned near motorway despite concerns

The proposal would see the new crematorium built near the M5

A new crematorium could be built near a motorway despite concerns about vehicles queueing more than 300ft at traffic lights.

Crematorium group Westerleigh has submitted plans for a nine acre site in Stroud, Gloucestershire, near junction 13 of the M5.

If approved by Stroud District Council it would mean local people would not need to travel dozens of miles to Gloucester or Bristol for crematorium services.

However Gloucestershire County Council's highways team said it wants any decision to be deferred until it receives more information about potential traffic.

Westerleigh's proposals also include a memorial garden, a car park and a natural burial ground.

Kevin Davies, head of new site operations at Westerleigh Group, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "Westerleigh look at actually offering a full range of service times, the facility is state of the art.

"On top of that it's important to think about the surrounding countryside which we try and blend into as park ground."

It is not known when a decision on Westerleigh's application will be made.

The new crematoirum would mean local people would not need to travel to Gloucester or Bristol

In response to the the bid, the county council's highways department said drivers who arrive in convoy behind the hearse could risk a 328ft (100m) queue of traffic because of the traffic lights.

"The queue will build as each car going to the site is held for four seconds," the response said.

"If there are say five cars waiting to turn, there is a 20 second delay with the general traffic coming onto the back of the queue, which if it is a 15 vehicle platoon you have a 100m queue and we need to understand if that can be seen by a vehicle travelling over the brow on a green.

"The queue will also tempt drivers to move into the cycle lane to the detriment of highway safety."

A Stroud District Council spokesperson said: "We continue to work with consultees including GCC Highways, on additional information submitted. We will work to issue a decision as soon as possible after receipt of these consultation responses."