PROTESTORS have said building a crematorium in a Shipley park would effect the “physical and mental wellbeing” of the thousands of people who use the park.

Members of the Friends of Northcliffe presented a petition signed by 3,500 people to a meeting of the Council on Tuesday evening, and urged them to drop the park from a list of potential sites for a new crematorium.

But ultimately Councillors voted to keep the park in its list of three sites for a possible new facility.

This summer the Council revealed its bereavement strategy for the coming years, which includes the closure of Nab Wood and Scholemoor Crematorium and building two new replacements.

New legislation requires mercury filters at all crematoria, and the Council says it would not be possible to install these at Nab Wood and Scholemoor.

The Council has identified three sites for a replacement for Nab Wood crematoria, Northcliffe Park and two private sites, which have not been made public.

The inclusion of Northcliffe has led to a huge backlash among Shipley residents, who have pointed out that the park was gifted to the people of Shipley for recreation and leisure use.

The Council has said that if Northcliffe was chosen, the crematorium would take up around five per cent of the park.

At the meeting Steve Bruzzese, from friends of Northcliffe, told the Council: “The park is a unique mix of parkland, sports pitches, meadows and woodland unique to the area. It has special significance to the community in and around Shipley. It is a fantastic space used by so many people.

“There would be a huge social impact that these proposals could have, that would effect people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

“Northcliffe says no, as a Council are you able to do the same?”

After his talk a number of protestors sitting in the public gallery began cheering.

Councillor Kevin Warnes (Green, Shipley), said: “This is one of the biggest petitions to ever come before this Council.

“I do feel for the Council, because despite the district being 143 square miles, the amount of sites you could put a crematorium is limited.

“The park is a fabulous green space, and it is threatened by having a great big crematorium in the middle of it. The moment the officer report saying this site should have been included on the list hit the Executive’s desk, alarm bells should have been ringing. The idea should have been killed in its tracks.”

He pointed out that despite the proposals being suggested by the leading Labour party, Shipley Labout Councillor Vic Jenkins had been objecting to the scheme. Cllr Warnes said: “You can’t have it both ways. Labour can’t be proposing an option of putting a crematorium in the park and then have members campaigning against it.

“I’m asking you to take this park out of the equation.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for Environment, Sport and Culture said: “It is a very difficult place the executive finds itself in. Contrary to what people think, there are not a lot of sites int he district suitable for a crematorium, due to proximity to existing dwellings.

“This is just a feasibility study we are talking about – there is no decision made yet on which sites we will progress.

“People have asked why people can’t just go to crematoria outside the district. I don’t think that is right, a grieving family shouldn’t have to travel that distance to cremate a loved one. It would be awful for families to wait weeks and weeks for a funeral.

“The comments from the Friends group will be taken into account once we have the findings of the feasibility study.”

She said Nab Wood and Scholemoor were working “way beyond” their original working lives and needed to be replaced as soon as possible. The council was also having to pay a levy on the Mercury being emitted by Nab Wood.

The Council then voted to keep the park on the list of potential sites await the findings of the feasibility study before a decision was made. It would likely be next year before the study was completed.