CONTROVERSIAL plans to open a funeral home next to a housing complex for elderly people have been given the go-ahead.
Sentiments Funeral Home Ltd was yesterday granted planning permission to convert a disused doctors surgery in Aspen Court, Cleethorpes, into a funeral directors.
The application provoked a furious response from residents, who say the choice of location is "extremely insensitive".
However, Sentiments insist the building will be used as a satellite office for its accounts department, and that all funerals will continue to leave from its main premises in Chantry Lane, Grimsby.
Speaking at yesterday's Planning Committee meeting, Sentiments director Gary Walters attempted to reassure residents over its planned use of the building.
"We would like to apologise to any of the residents if we have caused them distress," he said.
"The last thing we would want is to cause upset to anyone. We have also been very considerate to our neighbours in Chantry Lane."
Mr Walters told the committee that although viewings could be arranged at its new Cleethorpes branch if necessary, these would be avoided "wherever possible".
He added: "There will be no hearses or florists going in every day. All the funerals will leave from Chantry Lane as they do now. No preparation work will be carried out at the premises."
Ward councillor Margaret Cracknell (Con, Haverstoe), speaking on behalf of residents, expressed concerns about the inclusion of a chapel of rest and preparation room in the plans.
She said: "Just about every dwelling surrounding the site is occupied by an elderly person and the proximity of the nearest dwelling is very close. For such a distance this use is beyond belief."
Councillor Cracknell also expressed concern about the proximity of the building to the Annie Chapple Centre, which hosts events for young and old alike.
"Residents who use the centre are upset with this proposal. Residents feel very strongly that walking past the application site they could be confronted by the to-ing and fro-ing of a coffin."
The application was approved by six votes to five.
Speaking after the decision, Clifford Denison, 80, who lives above the proposed funeral home, said: "It's disgusting. It should never have been put in.
"This is upsetting people on the estate – most of them are over 50."
Another Aspen Court resident Mary Ward, 74, said: "We don't want it. We are all elderly and we don't want reminding of what's going to be. The Annie Chapple holds parties for children and it will not be very nice for them."
Bob Ayling, 79, chairman of the Belvoir Park Residents' Association, said: "I'm against it. To me it is not exactly the place to have a funeral directors."
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