Plans to build a new crematorium in Dartford have been deferred.

Developers Dignity PLC were expecting to get the go-ahead to build on the site of the old Mabledon Hospital at a committee meeting on Thursday, but members instead decided a site visit was necessary before a final decision is made.

Members voted in favour of a site visit in light of concerns raised by local residents regarding the proposed location of the entrance to the crematorium in Green Street Green Road.

Speaking on behalf of nearby homeowners, Tony Prentice said the road was already too busy to accommodate a route into the crematorium.

“Funeral processions of 30 cars plus from the south trying to cross the path of oncoming traffic from the north will feed congestion back into the village and beyond,” he said.

“The B260 is the busiest B road in Kent and is often grid-locked when traffic backs up from the Dartford Tunnel. It is also the main walking route for children from the Leigh Academy and the Dimples Nursery just 100 metres down the road.”

“The entrance is very wide to take into the account the turning radius of heavy goods vehicles, along with the funeral processions and service vehicles that will be going in at all times of the day.

"Residents on the west side of the B260 will also experience problems getting in and out of their drives.”

Mr Prentice suggested that the original entrance to the hospital, located in Gore Road, should be reopened and used for the crematorium instead.

Cllr Tom A Maddison sympathised with Mr Prentice’s position and proposed that the committee visit the site for themselves before deciding on whether to green light the development.

"It’s important that this planning committee gets things as dead right as we possibly can,” he said.

“I would call on us to have a site visit to have a proper look at the access point and see if we are completely satisfied.”

Cllr Maddison was supported in his view by Cllr Roger S L Perfitt.

“If it’s perceived enough by people who live there that this is a problem, then it does become a planning issue,” he said.

“It is obvious to me that the entrance needs to be put back further. I would second the need for a site visit because we also need to see what we’re doing in the green belt."

"I’m never in favour of encroaching in the green belt and I think to do the residents justice, and to do ourselves justice, we should have a look at that and the highways situation. We should at least do the residents the courtesy of looking at it before we decide.”

The committee voted in favour of the site visit, with a date to be announced as to when it will take place.

Dignity PLC have welcomed the opportunity to further discuss their proposal.

“We respect the decision of the Planning Committee and welcome the opportunity to discuss our proposal further at their site visit,” said a spokesman.

“As with Dignity’s other 39 crematoria, we would be a responsible custodian of the site if our proposal was accepted."

"We would agree to a long-term management regime, in consultation with the council and Kent Wildlife Trust, to ensure that ecological interests are protected and enhanced.”

The site visit will be for committee members only, but members of the public will again be able to attend the follow-up meeting at Dartford Civic Centre.