A


TheClitheroe


rp dvertiser and 1 imes .clitheroetoday^cd


Woodland burial site plan in Valley


__________by Julie Magee__________


AN application to create a multi-faith woodland burial cemetery in the Rib- ble Valley has been submitted to plan­


ning chiefs. Blackburn resident Mr Sabir Esa


bought the piece of land s i tuated off Northcote Road, Langho, from property tycoon Mr Gerald Hitman last year. A senior member of Blackburn Masjide


Tauheedul Islam Mosque and a relation of Blackburn Peer, Lord Adam Hafejee Patel, Mr Esa now hopes, with the bless­ ing of Ribble Valley Borough Council, to develop the 28-acre unused fallow field into a cemetery with associated car park­ ing and landscaped areas. The proposal’s landscape architect Mr


Paul Hensey, of Elysium Design Ltd, Clitheroe, explained the cemetery would be open to people from all faiths. “I t’s for people who are interested in the


principles of woodland b u r ia l,” he explained. While compiling the plans, the applicant


has had to take into account the special requirements of different faith groups in order to plan the site and calculate how many people may be buried there. Muslims, for example, need to be buried


facing the holy city of Mecca, and such body-orientation needs to be taken into account when planning a multi-faith ceme­ tery.


m Mr Esa said that customs intrinsic to


other faiths would also have to be consid­ ered. He added that the cemetery would serve


Ribble Valley residents as well as possibly serving people living in areas such as Accrington, Hyndburn and Blackburn. As part of the proposal, plans have also


been submitted for an “administration and funeral prayer building” on site, which Mr Esa stresses will have “no religious sym­ bolism” inside or associated with the building. He categorically denied that the building would be used as a mosque adding that planners could impose the necessary conditions to prohibit that. He explained the building would be used


to fulfil the legal requirement of maintain­ ing records, to store essential parks main­ tenance equipment and as a reception hall. If planning permission is granted, the


applicant is hoping the proposal will attract grant aid. The Forestry Commission has already


expressed an interest as the proposal would return the site to naturalised woodland. In the first phase of the proposal, around five to six thousand trees would be planted. It is planned that access to the site will


be from Northcote Road, and considera­ tion is being given to confine burials to hours outside of peak flow traffic times. The applicant is also considering using marshalls and working closely with local businesses to diffuse any potential traffic problems.


The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev


Nicholas Reade is on file supporting the application, while the regional office of the Wildlife Trust has also given a favourable reaction. Conservation manager Tim Mitcham


states: “The Trust would be interested in an involvement and can see many benefits for nature conservation and the communi­


ty.” He added that the Trust was “especially


taken” with the multi-cultural approach believing that it could “build positive rela­ tionships between groups”. The Environment Agency has con­


firmed that investigations have demon­ strated that the proposed development is “unlikely to cause any significant pollu­ tion risk to Water resources”. I t added that burial excavations should


not exceed a depth of two metres. However, the application has not proved


so popular with some local residents. Langho resident Mrs Moira Phillips is


angered the cemetery could be used by people who live outside the Ribble Valley. She is concerned it will increase already


heavy traffic travelling on the A59. Mrs Phillips is also concerned about the


size of the proposed administration and funeral prayer building and how the devel­ opment will effect underground streams. Other local residents say there is inade­


quate pedestrian access on Northcote Road.


Tea party is voted a hit


YOUNGSTERS Alexa Rogers and Holly-Anne Hart­ ley are pictured with Sylvia Wyatt having fun at a “Big Tea Party” fund-raising event. The party was held in aid of


Home-Start Ribble Valley. In next week’s Valley maga­


zine we feature the charity and the work carried out to help others throughout the area. (B150905/4b) ■


I' A' Till • T'(! 1 m-:


20 King Street, CLITHEROE


01200 427136 wv/w.althams.co.uk


Door to uangm fe ftan selectfrf ae» H i* sdectcd cperatofs 6 afcjcrt to mnsiiin majoffun dffzlion of 17 days 6 age Hntts appljL Itee dfld place are


10 weete of depaitiffe and ato suC ^ to the baianx of the bvds. as ponapal for W6421. msurena 0 aibjea to to operator cYaldWity at apply to setected dates a properti^ beir^ pakl ty an agr^ dato AppUes to nsw bookings on!)t & conditions app()L


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43