Is crematorium on the cards for Horncastle?

An application has been submitted to East Lindsey District Council for the development, which will also feature a chapel, memorial garden and associated facilities, including car parking and ‘appropriate’ access.

The 16-acre site is just off the B1191 and adjacent to the Spa Trail - a popular walking and cycling route - near Martin.

The site is described in the application as a ‘field’.

The applicant is Jonathan Crossley who lives in Thimbleby.

In a design and access statement published on ELDC’s website, Mr Crossley explains the site is surrounded by woodland and mature hedgerows. There are ‘no immediate’ residential dwellings.

The statement adds: “The need for a crematorium in the Horncastle area has been recognised for some time.

“The brief was to meet the growing needs of the population of Horncastle and surrounding towns and villages to provide a development that would service the community.

“The brief also recognises that the site should provide positive environmental benefits by reducing travelling times, traffic congestion, CO2 emissions and other issues.”

The statement reveals data shows over 70% of the population now elect to be cremated.

It also highlights more than 1,500 new homes already have planning permission in Horncastle and Woodhall Spa.

It adds: “This will induce a large increase in local population and will only see the need for the proposed development to increase in the near future.”

The statement also points out the number of elderly people in Horncastle and Woodhall Spa exceeds the national average.

It says the nearest crematoriums are at Alford (20 miles), Lincoln (17 miles) and Boston (20 miles).

According to the report, those locations involve a 35-50 minute journey from Horncastle. It says all three are working at ‘peak capacity’ with a waiting list of ‘up to three weeks.’

The proposed facility would ‘fit in’ with its surroundings and the crematorium building would be ‘low rise’, meaning it would only be visible from the main road.

There would be a one-way entry and exit system.

The statement also reveals, following discussions with planning officers at ELDC, the site was moved further away from an ‘intensive’ poultry farm.

Documents indicate provision for 100 parking places. Six full-time and four par-time jobs would be created. Access would be possible from the Spa Trail.