Published: Wednesday, 11th November, 2009 11:19am

'The biggest disaster since the Romans arrived in Melrose' - Town slams crematorium decision

by Alexa Brown

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Campaigners voiced their opposition with a sign on the side of the Eildons near Wairds Cemetery. The site was described as a 'particularly sensitive' part of the National Scenic Area by Scottish Natural Heritage.

FURIOUS campaigners have slammed Scottish Borders Council's decision to allow the building of a crematorium beneath the Eildons as 'the biggest disaster since the Romans arrived in Melrose.'

Ogilvie Dickson, member of the Save the Eildons campaign group, was one of many looking on as the SBC Planning Committee shooed the controversial plans through on Monday with a majority vote of eight to two.

And Mr Dickson, who helped organise a petition carrying more than 1300 signatures opposing Westerleigh Group's plans for the site next to Waird's Cemetery, said the decision would have a huge impact on tourism in Melrose.

He said: "It's an absolute disaster. Not one single councillor took into account the impact that this development would have on the tourism trade in the town itself. Who would want to go on holiday with their family and end up in a hotel full of mourners? It is just not right the right thing to build beside a tourism town."

Mr Dickson also vented anger at plans to play funeral services from the crematorium through speakers to an area outside when the number of mourners exceeds the building's capacity.

He added: "It's inhuman to expect people to stand outside on a cold, January morning and listen to a service through speakers. The whole thing is badly planned, and has been from the very beginning. It has been rushed through without any consideration for the people of the town.

"It is the biggest disaster since the Romans arrived in Melrose."

The council received more than 220 responses to the plans, including two petitions for and against the development.

Scottish Natural Heritage objected to building on the site, which they said is a 'sensitive' part of the National Scenic Area. The matter will now be passed onto Government ministeres who will have the final say on the plans.

But Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker said he was happy that the council had finally agreed on a site, after it was revealed that the Borders is the biggest geographical site in the UK not to offer such a facility.

He said: "I am delighted that the Planning and Building Standards Committee has endorsed the proposals to build the region's first crematorium. We have waited 30 years for the development of this much-needed facility and I am very pleased that the plans have been given the go-ahead and I know the majority of Borderers will entirely agree with today's decision."

Financial Director of the Westerleigh Group, Adrien Britten, yesterday said the company was pleased to have received initial planning permission for the site.

He told the Border Telegraph: "I think the points I'd make are that, first and foremost, we've been looking for a site in the area for over 15 years, and this is the only site that served the need and that we feel is an appropriate site to build a crematorium on.

"It seems as though a major fear of most people in the area has been the additional traffic. I know the figures to be accurate and I really don't think the traffic will be any problem in this area from my past experience.

"Another issue is the speakers for the outside area, but they are only small speakers and will not be heard more than a few hundred yards away. They certainly won't impinge on usage of the cemetery.

"I'd like to assure everybody locally that there should be no fears because we will do our best to be good neighbours as we have been around the UK for the past 20 years."