PLANS have been submitted to Thurrock Council for a new crematorium to be built on land adjacent to the A128.

Currently there is no crematorium within the borough, with the nearest being at Corbets Tye near Upminster in the west and Pitsea Crematorium in the east.

Since the introduction of an extension to the Transport for London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) scheme, local funeral directors have reported a significant number of bereaved families are now choosing Pitsea to avoid anyone attending services with a non-qualifying vehicle having to pay a levy of £12.50

The application for a crematorium within borough boundaries is to locate it behind Wick Place Cottage on the A128 Brentwood Road.

How the crematorium would be laid out

A previous application for a crematorium on the site, together with a private doctor's surgery and a care home was refused. It was decreed it would be harmful to the Green Belt and it was at an unsustainable location. It would also have had an adverse traffic impact.

The new plan is just for the crematorium and car park leaving a substantial part of the site as undeveloped.

The main building will host two chapels.

The applicant states that the new crematorium building will be set on the furthest northern boundary of the outlined site and is set back from the A128 to minimise any street scene impact.

The site will be arranged into five sections, the Book of remembrance, a man car park, north and south chapels, a reflection area and a large area of open green space.

The application says that the project will assist the borough economy in the long and short term in terms of job opportunities.

An aerial plan of the site.

It states there will also be an increase in revenue to Thurrock Council.

Summing up, applicants say the principle is to create a well-considered and needed development that would enhance the shortfall of suitable crematoriums. Though it is in the green belt, its designers say it will deliver significant ecology and biodiversity gains.

The application design statement concludes: "The development will use energy efficient products as well as incorporating energy efficient products to reach a holistic development that is carbon zero, if not negative.

There has already been some opposition to the proposal.

A statement from Bulphan Community Forum says: "It would be good if Thurrock had its own crematorium within easy reach of the majority of residents of Thurrock.

Bulphan, however, is just about the most distant point from the higher-populated areas of Thurrock and there is extremely limited public transport available.

"The comparatively long distances that Thurrock residents will have to drive to get to this site will inevitably add to carbon emissions.

"The applicant's agent is very optimistic in claiming that hundreds of vehicle movements a day will not impact the A128, even with improved access points. When there are problems at the Dartford Crossing or the M25, the A128 is choc-a-bloc.

A view of the crematorium building and car park.

"One of the stated intentions of this site is that it will 'limit the need for the surrounding community to make longer journeys to crematoria in neighbouring areas'. The length of journey for those in populated areas of Thurrock ranges from six to nine and a half miles, journeys from the same areas to existing crematoria is four to six miles.

"A crematorium in Thurrock would be better sited centrally, with reasonable public transport links and better road links from all areas of Thurrock."

The full application can be viewed by this link, and there is opportunity for residents to comment.

The two-part design and access statement with fill drawings, maps and illustrations can be viewed directly through these links:

https://thurrock.nub.news/uploads/23_01255_OUT-DESIGN___ACCESS_STATEMENT_-_PART_1-951749.pdf

https://thurrock.nub.news/uploads/23_01255_OUT-DESIGN___ACCESS_STATEMENT_-_PART_2-951750.pdf