RESIDENTS have been congratulated for their response to an appeal which led to the rejection of controversial plans for a crematorium in the Green Belt.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears backed a recommendation by independent planning inspector Mike Moore that the appeal, launched by Crematoria Management at Waterworks Lane in Hooton, should be dismissed.

The company told planning officers at Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council it was proposing to build the crematorium opposite the Hooton park and ride between Hooton and Willaston.

It would provide additional facilities to those at Blacon and Landican.

The application was refused by the borough council leading to the appeal to Mrs Blears.

Mrs Blears decided she would reach the decision herself.

The outcome was reported to a meeting of the borough's planning committee which was told by Willaston & Thornton Cllr Graham Smith (Con): “Congratulations to local people who made a very detailed response.”

Colleague Willaston & Thornton Cllr Myles Hogg (Con) added: “I was very pleased the inspector picked up the main points the council had used in its refusal, including inappropriate use of the Green Belt.”

Cllr Smith believed it was “intolerable” there had been two letters of support for the application from officers of the borough council itself.

Planning chief Mr Tom Miller pointed out, however, that the letters had not been from the planning department “and from a planning point of view there was no doubt about it right from the start that the answer was no”.

Parkgate Cllr Brenda Dowding (Con) described it as “alarming that different departments could make different representations” but accepted it was difficult to avoid.

Mr Miller said officers had been approached prior to the submission of the application and Cllr Hogg pointed out comments relating to the quality of burial services had been made in good faith.

“I think we have learned a lot of lessons from this particular application,” he suggested.

The minister agreed with the inspector that the development would be harmful to the openness of the Green Belt as it would encroach into the countryside.

She did not believe the benefits suggested by the company amounted to the very special circumstances which were needed to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and agreed that planning permission should be refused.

The inspector reached his conclusions after a four day inquiry and visits to the crematoria in Blacon and Landican.