PROPOSED CEMETERY ON MAYLANDS FIELDS ( Planning Application Ref:

P1742.14 )
A revised planning application has now been submitted for the proposed
cemetery on Maylands Fields.
There are now 2 applications current for cemeteries on either side of the
A12. Residents should also be aware that the land to the East of Maylands Fields,
just beyond the former petrol station, is on a list of possible housing sites
included in a newly launched consultation by Brentwood Council. To make
matters worse, major improvements and extensions are also planned for the road
system
at Brook Street roundabout.
If these developments come to fruition they will change the character of
this locality forever
and no trace of undeveloped semi natural Green Belt will remain. We
urge you to object to the Maylands cemetery. Only a strong voice from
local people can save what is left of our semi
natural surroundings from developers. The Green Belt is precious.
Once its gone its gone.
If you wish to oppose the Maylands planning application you could make the
following points:

The application is contrary to the Metropolitan Green Belt Policies of the Core
Strategy and Development Control Policies Development Plan Documents.

It is part of the only remaining small area of semi natural undeveloped land
between this part of London and Essex. We are already bordered by the A12,
M25 and the railway and every area of undeveloped land is a valued local
amenity and should remain so.

The plan allows for 10,000 burial plots and this, together with the proposed
car park for 120 cars, confirms this would be a major development. Traffic
to and from the site would add to the problems of the dual carriageway A12,
the dangerous nature of which has been confirmed by the recent installation of
speed cameras. The proposed entrance and exit would link to the London
bound carriageway of the A12 meaning that cemetery traffic would need to
turn either at the already congested Brook Street roundabout or at Petersfield
Avenue. Both of these are known danger spots. Residents will recall that the
police recently tried to stop u-turns at Petersfield because of the danger.

Traffic problems will be increased by the need for slow moving refuse collection
vehicles and skip lorries for carrying away spoil from the grave sites.

Although, in principle, cemeteries are allowable on Green Belt land, the London
Plan, under which this application falls, insists on the principle of
proximity. This is the condition that any cemetery on Green Belt land must

serve the local, not distant, community. This was one of the reasons why
planning officers recommend refusal of the previous application for Maylands
Fields and it applies to this one as well. The supporting documents confirm
that the prime reason for the site is to provide burial space for inner East
London Boroughs and, according to the London Plan, it should not be
allowed. There are also restrictions on the extent of built area that may be
allowed and inspection of the plans show this to be excessive in this case.
Continued

The design of the proposed buildings is completely out of character for the
neighbourhood.

Planning Officers have previously advised that Havering, and adjoining

boroughs, have adequate burial spaces for the foreseeable future - so
there is no overriding or special need for a cemetery on Maylands
Fields. The cemetery will be for those of the Muslim faith. Again, as
confirmed by planning officers, the local Muslim population is small & is very
adequately catered for in the availability of burial spaces. No mention is made
of the similar application for land adjoining Maylands Golf Course which is
intended to add even more unnecessary burial space.

Additional capacity is already proposed in Redbridge, where the applicants are

currently developing another cemetery exclusively for Muslim burials.
This again calls into question the need to develop an important conservation
area like Maylands Fields.

The developer makes much of the case for the development on environmental
grounds but fails to mention the impact of bringing a stream of funeral
corteges from inner London to Havering.

There are several references to the careful management of the woodland area,
masking the fact that this entails removal of much needed trees from the site.
Despite the mitigation proposed, there is little doubt that protected species,
and other wildlife, will be disturbed and displaced by increased human activity
on the site.

Regarding pollution, it is stated that groundwater is found at 3 meters below

the surface but no mention is made of the frequent flooding of the site. There
must be a danger of leaching from the graves into the Ingrebourne, which itself
floods in to nearby gardens from time to time. Bearing in mind the number of
graves planned, we have serious doubts that the specific areas allocated to
burials, apparently chosen to avoid flooding and leaching problems, will be
sufficient and we expect the whole site would need to be used.

A boundary strip of just 15 meters is proposed between the cemetery and the
houses in Maylands Way. This would be insufficient.

The application states that it is not expected that there will be a risk of
vandalism & damage on the site. While we share this hope, it may not be
realistic bearing in mind current events in the world. It is likely that in time
there may be a need for security fencing & lighting which will further harm the
semi-rural aspect of this neighbourhood. Indeed review of the applicants
existing cemetery in Hainault demonstrates a constant stream of modifications
to their original plans.

We understand that most burials will come from inner East London. With all
profits going elsewhere and nothing but downsides for our neighbourhood.
Why should we surrender our Green Belt and a regionally important
Conservation area? We are not Nimbys, the Green Belt is vital to all
Londoners!
Comments on the application are required by 27th January 2015.

Details are on www.havering.gov.uk/planning. Submit your views using the

online comments form or e-mail your comments to planning@havering.gov.uk
or write to Communities & Resources, Planning Control, London Borough
of Havering, Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford, RM1 3SL.
ALWAYS quote the reference number of the application
P1742.14
It would be helpful if you also told your ward councillors what you feel about this
application. Re the Brentwood consultation, our comments will be considered by
that Council. Details are on www.brentwood.gov.uk. Look under Planning and
Building Control, Local Development Plan.
Maylands Action Group ( contact: maylands2003@yahoo.com )