A NEW planning application has been submitted to Warrington Borough Council's planning bosses regarding Walton Lea Crematorium.

The documents submitted - an ecology report, mainly - refer to the siting of a new cremator for pets.

It is expected that the new cremator would be sited to the east of the main crematorium premises.

Little has been provided as yet by way of planning documentation, however, the ecology statement provides a number of conditions that the development would need to fulfil if permission was to be granted.

The statement's conditions are as follows:

  • All excavations on site should be covered at night or a ramp should be provided to allow amphibians to exit excavations. All excavations should be checked for amphibians each morning prior to the re-commencement of any works.
  • All exposed new pipework and drains should be capped at night so as to avoid trapping amphibians.
  • All excavated materials/waste should be stored in skips or similar and not on the ground where it could be used as a refuge/resting area by amphibians. Alternatively, all waste should be removed from the site daily.
  • All stored building materials that might be used as temporary resting places by amphibians should be stored off the ground on pallets or similar.
  • Scaffold footings will be placed on sand to prevent newts from taking temporary refuge underneath the footings.
  • If GCN [Great Crested Newts] are found at any time during works, then works should cease immediately and advice sought from a suitably qualified GCN ecologist.

This planning application is currently under consideration by council planning officers, and a decision is due by Monday, April 10.

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