A LONG-SERVING former councillor has lent her support to the controversial Fladbury crematorium application.

The Westerleigh Group have applied for planning permission to build a crematorium just off the A44 in Fladbury.

Gaynor Amphlett, who retired after 20 years as a councillor in Pershore and who served on the council's cemetery committee has written in support of the application which has drawn complaints from residents.

Mrs Amphlett said: "I wish in the strongest of terms to support the application.

"Pershore town council scoured our area to find somewhere suitable to build a facility here. Sadly there was nowhere that met the strict criteria.

"Fladbury does fit the criteria and the concerns expressed by residents are all easily addressed.

"The road's in the area are excellent and any concerns regarding emissions are well covered by the stringent conditions imposed by law.

"Astwood crematorium is oversubscribed and has been for years frequently taking three weeks to arrange cremation.

"Also the journey of 45 minutes to get there from this part of the county is not helpful to the bereaved.

"Cremation is much more common than burial these day's and this will become a greater percentage of funerals in the future because most young people cannot conceive of wanting to be buried.

"Wychavon planning department will obviously be scrutinising the application as they should do.

"I wish to remind them that their duty as a local authority is to provide for the genuine needs of the population of the district, a new crematoria is a genuine need and I urge them to be bold and accept their responsibility to enable this facility to become a reality."

"Many people will thank them now and in the future for their foresight in recognizing that this need must be met and now is the time to ensure that it happens."

Her support comes after some residents described the plans as an 'accident waiting to happen.'

Around 85 people met in Fladbury Village Hall to oppose the application in April, with the increased traffic and emissions at the forefront of their objections.