Latest news with #naturalburial
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Mepal bereavement centre is approved by councillors
Councillors have paved the way for a new bereavement centre to be built on the grounds of a former outdoor activity Mepal Outdoor Centre near Ely was closed following a fire in at the Conservative-controlled East Cambridgeshire District Council approved a business case for the bereavement centre at a meeting on the project has been opposed by some residents and opposition Liberal Democrats who have criticised an increase in costs. The council says the centre will include a crematorium, natural burial area, pet cemetery, a function room for wakes, a memorial tributes walkway and a remembrance will be set within flower meadows and woodland walks, with views overlooking a site will be "skilfully developed to enhance the significant biodiversity and ecology" - the council says - and it is working with the Wildlife Trust because of a number of "endangered plants and animals" in the area. A petition against the plans was set up by the Liberal Democrats who said it was a "grotesque waste of money" and pointed out it was only 12 miles away from another crematorium in the town of also criticised the cost of the scheme, which has risen from £8.2m to £13m, and said developers could be spending the money Dupre, who leads the opposition group of councillors, said she did not believe it was a suitable site for a bereavement centre."Many residents have commented on the smell from the enormous next-door biodigester on the A142, and the thundering of the aggregate lorries from the gravel extraction sites across the road." Anna Bailey, the Conservative leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said she was "delighted that after many, many years of planning, work is finally able to begin on the bereavement centre"."Being able to say goodbye to a loved one in such a beautiful and tranquil lakeside setting – that not only protects, but enhances wildlife, is something this council is very proud to be able to deliver," said said it was important the council invested in the "future of our community" as soon as possible, because the local authority is due to be dissolved within the next three are expected to be dismantled and replaced by larger local authorities as part of a major shake-up of local government. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Plans for natural burial site near Westbury for 2,000 graves
Up to 2,000 graves could be created on a wildflower meadow site grazed by sheep, if plans are given the go ahead. Thoulstone Park is a 145 acre eco-leisure park at Chapsmanslade near Westbury, which currently hosts holiday lets, a restaurant, a farm shop and owners are now asking Wiltshire Council for permission to establish a site for natural burials and cremation internments on the one-hectare meadow, with the burial ground operated by Leedam, which runs 10 natural burial grounds in the Council is expected to make a decision on the planning application by July. James and Alka Hughes-Hallett run Thoulstone Park and were approached by Leedam with the idea. "Our view is that people who have passed away would probably prefer to watch life going on, and from our point of view there's not much of a better place to watch life and watching it in a beautiful landscape," said Mr explained that the section for the burial ground would resemble a wildlife meadow most of the time. There would be no stones or markers and graves would recorded by GPS instead. The scattering of ashes would not be oak memorial panel with recycled glass name plaques would be available and families can have a native tree planted in memory of loved ones in the woodland at the Hughes-Hallett said natural burial had "got to a point where it's very much mainstream" and that they have already had people contacting them after they saw the application going in. The park was established in 2012 on a former golf course that closed in 2002, with regeneration taking 10 application states that natural burial is the greenest available option for dealing with human remains, and appeals to people who care about the environment and will be conducted by established local undertakers and the applicant will hire a custodian to meet and greet Hughes-Hallett said there is an area nearby for gatherings that he describes as resembling a "cathedral of trees".
