Proposals for a new crematorium on the outskirts of Dundee have caused backlash, with residents calling it their ‘worst nightmare’.
Neighbours of Burnside of Duntrune, on the north-east edge of Dundee, have been told a planning application to build a crematorium on the field is due to be submitted in the coming weeks.
Residents of neighbouring Duntrune House, and others living nearby, are already mounting a campaign against the plans by landowners, Friockheim-based F M & G Batchelor.
Management consultant Ian Robertson, who owns a flat in the converted 19th Century house, is leading the campaign.
He said: “We knew something was going on even before we received the letter because people were checking out the field and doing traffic tests but this is the worst nightmare of things we could imagine.
“If this goes ahead there will be traffic coming every hour, on the hour, with funeral corteges coming past our window all day.
“Even a graveyard wouldn’t have such frequent traffic but in the most respectful way, a crematorium is like a production line.
“I’ve lived here since 2015 and have made significant investment in the property but some have been here since the 80s.
“Most of the residents are pensioners and this is the last thing they want appearing at their front doors.”
If five or more official objections are lodged, the application must be decided by Angus Council’s development standards committee, instead under delegated powers by planning officers.
Mr Robertson is confident there is already enough opposition to prompt this.
He said: “There are 15 properties within 300 metres and all of the owners are against it.
“I’m leading a core group of opposers and we have engaged a planning consultant to object on our behalf.
“We will be leafletting in local villages to make sure everyone knows about it and can object if they choose.
“We are trying to raise awareness and rally the troops against this.”
There are already crematoriums in Dundee and rural Friockheim.
Mr Robertson argued the roads leading to Duntrune would not cope with an increase of traffic.
“The roads here are very narrow and there are already big farm vehicles using them,” he said.
“It’s an inappropriate development in a rural area.
The local roads leading are already quite busy so to have all of this going on, it’s just not suitable.”
Guthrie Batchelor of F M & G Batchelor said he notified neighbours ahead of lodging the application as a courtesy to neighbours but said it would be inappropriate to comment before the application is lodged.
