PROPOSALS to create a cemetery near to homes on Swanlow Lane have been recommended for refusal after councillors considered the application to be completely impractical.

Winsford Town Council's planning committee said the proposed cemetery at Swan House Farm would cause traffic chaos and prevent residents from enjoying their gardens.

Clr Malcolm Gaskill said: "This cemetery would be built just 6ft away from one woman's garden, which is unacceptable.

"Can you imagine having a barbecue in your garden while the local vicar is reading out 'ashes to ashes' just a few yards away?

"It isn't right and I'm sure people who are attending the funeral wouldn't want to hear people having a jolly time in their garden while they are burying a loved one."

Chris Barratt, 52, who lives next door to the proposed cemetery, said: "We have children who will be playing in the garden during the summer and we don't want this cemetery here.

"I don't want to be overly emotive about this but it is only 6ft away from the garden and I don't think it is appropriate at all."

Clr Gaskill received more than a dozen letters of objection from residents concerned about traffic congestion.

He said: "The main concern was traffic because there is nowhere to park along Swanlow Lane, so it would cause absolute chaos.

"The planning committee consisted of just myself and my wife, who is also a Liberal Democrat councillor, because none of the Labour councillors bothered to turn up.

"We recommended this for refusal after weighing up the need for more burial space with the traffic issues and the importance of people being able to enjoy their gardens.

"Our recommendation to refuse the application will now go to the borough council for consideration."