Controversial plans for a new crematorium in North Cornwall have been approved despite hundreds of objections from local people. Planning permission for the Atlantic View Crematorium next to the A39 at Poundstock near Bude was granted by Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee this morning.

After councillors voted to approve the plans there were disappointed jeers and shouting from the public gallery at New County Hall with objectors shouting that it was “a shambles”.

The new crematorium had been proposed to try and provide a facility for people in North Cornwall and Devon who currently have to travel long distances to Bodmin or Barnstaple to access their nearest crematorium.

Applicants The Atlantic View Crematorium Consortium said that the Bodmin facility is currently operating at 130 per cent capacity in 2019 and that families were having to wait more than three weeks for services. They said that the demand was only expected to increase and that there was a need for a crematorium to serve people in North Cornwall.

However, objectors questioned the viability of the project and said that it was in the wrong location. They claimed that it could have a major impact on residents and on the tourism industry in the area.

Peter Le Broy, Cornwall councillor for Bude, spoke in support of the application highlighting that people in the area have to travel 30 to 40 miles for their nearest crematorium and said that the new development would be justified in helping people as well as reducing carbon emissions from travelling.

He added: “I grew up by the seaside there and my family was and still is involved in the tourist trade. I don’t believe it will have any negative impact on the tourist trade.” And he said: “Here is a developer offering a critical public facility that will serve the community well. I hope the committee will support the application.”

However, Nicky Chopak, Cornwall councillor for Poundstock, backed those who objected to the plans and said that whilst the applicants had “worked hard” in some areas to address issues in other areas they had “failed”.

She said that she was concerned about the impact the new crematorium could have on tourism, residents and the landscape. Cllr Chopak also said there was a lack of evidence to support the need for a new crematorium.

Committee member Andrew Long said that he did not think that it was the right location for the development and questioned whether it was the best place to serve the demand.

Julian German said that the committee would “struggle” to refuse the application on that basis and highlighted that there had been no objections from any of the statutory consultees regarding the impact on the landscape and environment.

He also added that there were mitigations in place to address some of the concerns along with a number of “robust conditions”. He said that he could not see any material planning reasons to refuse the application.

John Fitter said that he had read through all the reports and all the comments both in favour and against the application. He said he was “intrigued” by claims that the development would impact tourism and mentioned a letter from Malcolm Bell from Visit Cornwall which compared the crematorium plans with wind turbines which he claimed had impacted tourism – Cllr Fitter said that he could not see a comparison between the two. He said: “I don’t believe it would have any adverse effect on tourism.”

Cllr Fitter said he thought the crematorium was an “exciting design” and said it was “very high quality”. He added: “I am not sure that we should be so concerned about hiding it away. We shouldn’t get fixated on it being something that we should hide behind the trees. People go to celebrate the lives of those who have passed. I don’t think it should be a closed environment.”

Cllr Fitter said that he did have concerns about the financial viability of the crematorium but added that councillors “have to make a balanced decision on this and we can’t prejudge what is going to happen”.

In stating that he would support the application he added: “This has been going around since 2018, there is no other application proposed, no other application on the table. There is a desperate need for this.”

Dominic Fairman agreed and proposed that the application should be approved adding: “I do think North Cornwall does need a crematorium and at this point I would be happy to support the proposal.”

However, John Bastin was concerned about the loss of good quality agricultural land and said that he would not support the application for that reason.

The proposal to approve the application was made by Cllr Fairman and seconded by Cllr Fitter. It was approved with seven votes in favour and four against.