East Riding Council earmarks field it owns in Holderness for crematorium

A report going to the council's Cabinet on July 7 says the proposed crematorium would "fulfil a quantitative and social need and offer greater choice in the area for residents".

Built on a 10-acre site it would consist of a "bright,modern single storey building of flagship design" and would be surrounded by "attractive landscaped gardens of remembrance and a woodland walk".

Currently mourners have to travel to crematoriums in Octon, Driffield, an hour's drive away, or to Haltemprice Crematorium in Willerby, the other side of Hull. There is also a crematorium on Chanterlands Avenue, in Hull.

Last week a team was carrying out investigations in the field, which is off the Lelley Road crossroads.

A planning application is expected to be submitted in the autumn.

Construction would take place between August 2021 and July 2022, with the new facility opening in Autumn 2022, subject to all consents being in place.

It would create eight jobs.

Traffic has long been an issue in the village of Preston, which people coming from Hedon Road would travel through.

Parish council vice chairman Geoff Bell said more traffic was going to be generated by the Yorkshire Energy Park, which will be built off Staithes Road, while another huge industrial area is earmarked on land owned by Associated British Ports, between Saltend and Paull.

Councillor Bell said: "Unless someone invents a sky lift we are going to get more and more traffic.

"If the traffic could be dealt with I don't think there would be much objection to it."

Councillor Bell said a couple of years back they discovered via a Freedom of Information request that although the parish generates £11m in business rates a year, just £250,000 had been spent on highways in five years. He said: "I'm not saying they should spend £11 million, but there should be some relationship between one and the other."

The report says the crematorium could help address "funeral poverty", which sees some people left in debt to cover funeral costs, by offering "direct cremation" as an alternative to a full funeral services.

It will also prepare for a digital future and the likelihood of clients directly contacting the crematorium, rather than using funeral directors.

In a statement council leader Richard Burton said: “We have conducted a significant study and have established this project offers substantial benefits to local residents, businesses and communities.

“While the study began last year, the recent impact of the pandemic has been a stark reminder of the impact the loss of a loved one has and the importance of the need to say our goodbyes in a sensitive and dignified way.

“We hope to provide a beautiful tranquil place which reflects the Holderness landscape. We want it to be a place where people of all ages feel at ease visiting the site, somewhere which help families and friends to celebrate the lives of their loved ones in a positive and hopefully uplifting way."