COUNCILLORS have narrowly approved plans for Thurrock's first crematorium following a lengthy debate over its size and location.

Thurrock Council's planning committee voted on Tuesday five to four in favour of granting permission for the development on land off Brentwood Road (A128), near Snakes Spinney and New Covert in Orsett.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Elegy Limited, Colin Danks told councillors there was an "urgent and growing need" for a crematorium in Thurrock.

"Anyone who has suffered a bereavement knows that there is an urgent and growing need in Thurrock for a new crematorium and through a granted planning permission today, Elegy would like to be a long term service provider," he said.

Mr Danks said local funeral directors had raised concerns about the standard of care available to bereaved families because of pressure on surrounding crematoria.

Facilities in Basildon and South Essex were operating above 100 per cent of their monthly qualitative capacity, while none could serve most Thurrock residents within a 30 minute funeral cortege drive time, he added.

He said council officers agreed crematoria had to be located in the countryside, away from settlements, and that there was no better alternative site with lower visual impact or improved access.

Of 26 consultation responses, 23 supported the proposal.

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Cllr Tom Kelly, who represents Little Thurrock Rectory ward, said the facility would also provide economic benefits for the surrounding area.

"Other venues in and around the area are going to get a huge amount of business back from this from wakes," he said.

"All in all, I think it's a good scheme. Is it going to be big enough for the long term? I'm not so sure, but I hope it will cover us for quite some time."

However, concerns were raised about the scale of the proposal. Independent councillor Roy Jones, who represents Stanford East and Corringham Town, said he accepted the need for a crematorium but questioned whether the location and capacity were suitable.

"I don't think it's in the right place and I don't think it's big enough," he said. "I think we're going to be coming back here and looking at expanding it."

The approved scheme is for a single storey crematorium with memorial gardens, parking for 74 vehicles and a new access from the A128. It is expected to host up to 1,200 services a year.

Planning officers recommended approval, saying the public benefits outweighed any limited harm to the Green Belt, with around 87 per cent of the site remaining open space.