A pet crematorium has been given the go-ahead for a North East town.
The Pet Loss Foundation applied for planning permission to change the use of an empty workshop on Skelton High Street into a pet crematorium, adding a window and double door to the front.
The application said the facility, run by a community interest company, will “sensitively cremate local pets” with “minimal impact on the area”.
Emma Wright from the foundation told Redcar and Cleveland Council’s regulatory committee, which made the decision on the plan on Thursday (October 1): “This is a very, very low-impact small unit we’re putting there. We are a small animal unit so we wouldn’t be getting large animals or large vehicles.
“The community interest is about supporting the Redcar and Cleveland residents. It’s actually a new thing that is not supported anywhere in the UK. It is supporting our over-65 residents for free and subsidised care.
“We’re by appointment only. We have control over the amount of traffic coming in.
“I hope we have put enough information in to put people’s minds at rest about what is going into there, the level of care and ethics we are hoping to take forward. It is about support, it’s not about massive turnovers.”
Planning officers recommended approval of the plan. It drew 18 objections and 31 comments in support.
Supporters said it would offer people a dignified way to say goodbye to their pet and “the proposal comes from compassion and community service as it provides free and subsidised cremations for pensioners as well as bereavement support, a food bank and donations to local animal shelters”.
They said new businesses should be encouraged, it may bring people into the area, the traffic would be low due to booked appointments and it would be quiet and low-intensity with no risk of smoke, smell or air pollution.
Objectors raised issues including the environmental impact including the “smell of animals and ash”, emissions, noise, dust, traffic from staff and customers, limited parking, difficult back street access, visual impact and proximity to homes and businesses.
They suggested “it would be better situated on the industrial estate where there is better access and no housing”.
The council’s head of development services Claire Griffiths said it would not harm the character and appearance of the area, nor have any overbearing impacts or cause privacy loss.
She told the committee there would be an increase in traffic but the three car parking spaces on site was enough for the appointment-only services.
Skelton West Councillor Ursula Earl said residents raised concerns about parking: “It’s a very tight location. There is parking on the high street but this is almost always full.”
Ms Griffiths said: “It’s just on the edge of the town centre where there’s a range of transport and car parking. For planning officers, it’s considered acceptable.”
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Ms Wright said the crematorium would run in normal hours: “There would be nothing going on through the night.” Asked about the equipment and its removal of toxins, she said: “It’s a lot different to what the mind brings forward.
“It’s a very expensive machine. It’s lower than a coal fire, it’s lower than a standard household log burner, it’s smokeless and woodless.”
The plan was approved by a unanimous vote.