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Crimond residents call for crematorium plan to be scrapped

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A bid to rescue plans for what could be Aberdeenshire’s first crematorium has met with opposition from local residents.

The planned £3million development at Crimond, between Peterhead and Fraserburgh, was approved by councillors in May 2011.

However, the business consortium behind the scheme failed to meet a planning condition by not submitting fresh, more detailed plans for the site within a three-year deadline.

As a result, formal consent has now expired.

Just weeks before the cut-off date, Edinburgh-based architect David Gauld lodged an application with Aberdeenshire Council asking for extra time to progress the plans.

Now nearby residents have given their views on the project as part of a statutory public consultation exercise.

They are calling for the scheme to be scrapped, claiming that the surrounding roads network is unsuitable.

There are also concerns that the location, near the busy A90 commuter route, is inappropriate for a crematorium.

Residents have warned that services would be interrupted by constant noise from traffic, as well as stock car racing at weekends. They also say the building is too close to nearby homes.

Council planners have received four letters and e-mails objecting to the plan, with none submitted in support.

The scheme was originally delayed when revisions were made to the layout of the site.

A decision on the latest application is likely to be made by local authority officers in the coming weeks.

When the Crimond plan was unveiled in 2009, it triggered a race to build the north-east’s first crematorium, which would help reduce pressure on existing facilities at Aberdeen, Buckie and Arbroath.

Developers said a lack of facilities in Aberdeenshire means 70% of families opt for burial rather than cremation, in contrast to the UK average of 70% choosing cremation over burial.

Although the Crimond project was the first off the mark, it has now been overtaken by two other schemes.

Peterhead funeral director Robert Mackie submitted plans for a multimillion-pound centre at West Knock Farm, near Mintlaw, three years ago.

It was granted planning consent in August 2013.

Weeks later, councillors approved plans for a similar project at Crathes, on Deeside.

The Crimond scheme, proposed for land at the village’s former airfield at Hillhead Road, would house two cremators, a 300-capacity chapel, a garden of remembrance and a 180-space car park.

About 20 jobs would be created during the construction phase, with five full-time staff employed to run the crematorium.