Yapton residents win their battle

Developer Mercia Crematoria Ltd has withdrawn its proposal to site the facility on the western side of Bilsham Road.

The company wanted to start work on the 1.5m scheme this summer with the first services set to take place there next spring.

But the plans have been scrapped. The firm had told Arun District Council it no longer wanted to go ahead with the scheme.

Development surveyor Andy Marshall said in a letter to the council the company had listened to the concerns of members of the public in reaching its decision.

Particular regard had been given to residents' concerns about the traffic implications if a crematorium went ahead.

'We remain keen to deliver a crematorium to meet the clear need within Arun, but will now review all matters in the light of the public opposition,' he added.

Phil Robinson, one of the leading campaigners against the crematorium, said: 'We are obviously delighted with this news.

'It's a real victory for the local residents in Yapton and those from all round this area who backed us as well.

'Had there not been this massive public opposition, and the effect of the views which people have put forward, they could well have been building the crematorium here by now.'

But he said the celebrations at defeating the planning application were muted by the realisation that a new proposal could be submitted.

'We need to be aware of the fact that Mercia can re-apply,' he stated, 'and we would have the same sort of issues to deal with again.'

News of the crematorium plans were revealed in the Observer last October. Mercia claimed the building was needed because the two nearest crematoria '“ Chichester and Worthing '“ were busy.

The Yapton site was chosen because it was an equal distance between the urban areas of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton and was close to the A259. It was expected that about 1,250 services would take place there.

A public exhibition was held by the firm last November. About 150 people went along. The protestors formed themselves into the Enough Traffic action group and held a public meeting the following month with 89 people present.

The objectors said the crematorium should not go ahead chiefly because of the effect the extra traffic it would attract would have on the nearby notorious Comet Corner junction.

The flooding risk of the proposed site, the lack of pavements, streetlighting and limited public transport all counted against the location.

There was also concern about the precedent caused by the loss of a field to development to lead to the possible further expansion of the village.