A RESIDENTS group leader from Hooton has called the report recommending plans by developer Horizon to build a new crematorium be approved 'stale and outdated'.

Plans for a new crematorium, which would ease pressure on facilities in Landican and Blacon, were submitted in January 2022 by local developer Hooton Paddocks Ltd, rivalling initial plans from Horizon, which were tabled in late 2021.

A community figure has now said that the decision by planning officers to recommend the rival company's plans for approval is 'curious' and lacking consideration, he claims the report has barely changed from the one produced twelve months ago.

Dr Simon Oliver, Chair of the Hooton and District Residents' Association and senior faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Chester, said: "It looks like the planning officer made up his mind in 2021 and has not taken account of the host of new information submitted over the past 12 months. Instead, we have been left with the feeling that they just want to get this off the desk and push through the original Horizon proposal to build on Hooton Road, despite no proper site search being carried out, and strong evidence coming forward that Horizon presented false data for their need argument.

"The report’s analysis is stale and outdated with no genuine consideration of the growth of direct funerals nor the increased flood risk. The decision is so important that it should be determined by an inspector who is able to carry out a more thorough and impartial assessment."

"We remain opposed to the need for any new crematorium and it is astonishing that the officer has not independently verified the data or analyses that underpin Horizon’s need argument despite this being Green Belt development where there is a duty to not disturb the integrity of the natural landscape. Instead they are trying to wave through industrial scale development on a large, flat, open field in the middle of a countryside village. It is astonishing how little landscape harm has been attributed to a large crematorium building, memorial gardens, and parking lot that will be seen by everyone. This is not the appropriate test for the Green Belt."

Local developer Hooton Paddocks, led by Richard Evans, have proposed a smaller development which would include the demolition of an existing bungalow and stables on School Lane and lead to 112 sq m. of development compared to the 622 sq m. proposal for Hooton Road by Horizon.

Mr Evans says that planning officers have not applied the same level of scrutiny and rigour to Horizon's plans that his application received: "We had to work very hard to prove that there was no better alternative and answer all of the concerns and criticisms by residents. This is what you expect when proposing development in the Green Belt and it is surprising that officers this time around have not been as demanding."

"I know that this part of Cheshire has been waiting for a new crematorium for many many years but it is vital that the right time and care is taken to ensure that any development in the Green Belt is in the right place and of the right design."

Mr Evans says he plans to run an 'independent, family run service' working closely with Funeral Directors and says that families will pay more if the alternative scheme is built on Hooton Road: "I do not have city shareholders to satisfy. Horizon already charge £1000 for a cremation and I will guarantee that our fees will be considerably less and certainly no higher than those run by neighbouring local authorities. I have worked in crematoria all of my working life and will ensure that we never lose sight of the families in our care. I am not looking to make a quick buck out of bereavement."

He has asked that more time be allowed in order to deal with officers' concerns: "Otherwise, the decision should now be left to an Inspector so that there can be a thorough and independent examination of all matters before any development takes place in the Green Belt. This would then have the confidence of local residents and funeral directors."

Speaking to The Standard, Jeremy Hamilton of Horizon said: "We have worked very hard with planning officers over the past 18-months on our application for a modern and environmentally advanced crematorium for Cheshire West, and we are pleased that our application has been recommended for approval.   This is in fact the second time that our application has been recommended for approval.

"Following exhaustive analysis by the planners and consultees, they have concluded that there is a need for a single crematorium for the area, and that our site is proven to be the better and safer location. They have also concluded, following the same exhaustive analysis that the Hooton Paddocks site has serious, fundamental safety problems in terms of its location and its transport arrangements. The Hooton Paddocks site has also failed on a key ecology point.

"We have now been attacked a number of times by the applicant behind Hooton Paddocks, and his latest claims are yet again simply untrue and wrong; the council officers have been balanced and rigorous in their analysis; we do not charge over £1000 for a standard cremation at any of our sites, and we too always strive to benchmark our prices to surrounding facilities.

"Horizon was created following our own tragic experiences of losing people that we loved, and a belief that bereaved families deserve the highest levels of care, and that local crematoria should support their local communities and this is what we deliver, and what we hope to deliver in Cheshire West."

Cheshire West and Chester Council say that both applications have been considered in great detail by their planning officers.

A planning hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 7 at 4pm.