Controversial plans to build a £6 million crematorium on the outskirts of Faversham have been given the green light - despite fears it will snarl up the nearby road network.

The proposals, drawn up by leading funeral firm Memoria, were rubber-stamped by Swale Borough Council at a virtual meeting this week.

Developers say the new-build, which will be located on farmland off the Thanet Way at Staple Street will be in a “tranquil” setting and cater for the “clear need” that more memorial gardens are required in north east Kent.

Almost 1,000 services will be carried out at the new venue each year, and a 100-space car park will be created.

The council looked favourably upon the project, stressing that it will “provide benefits in respect of job creation in the rural area”.

Numerous traffic fears were raised by surrounding parish councils, as they stressed how the existing narrow road network through Staplestreet and Hernhill is unsuitable to cater for more vehicles.

But despite the scheme earning a total of 12 objections, planning chiefs at Swale council have now issued permission for the 10-acre project.

A report from the authority weighing up the pros and cons, states: “Matters of highway safety and amenity have been considered by the relevant highway authorities who have raised no objection.

“Although the proposal would not be particularly well located in terms of public transport, and the majority of traffic movements would be along a short section of a designated rural lane, I do not believe that this would outweigh the benefits of the scheme.”

At the decision meeting, one of Memoria’s directors, Jamieson Hodgson, said his company had been looking for a site in Kent since 2009 and added the new facility would have an electric cremation system using renewable energy sources which would emit 95% fewer carbon emissions.

Sharon Lyndsey, regional director from Co-op Funeralcare, said a new facility would mean families wouldn’t have to “wait an unacceptable amount of time to say their goodbyes”.

She said people living Faversham, Whitstable, Canterbury and Herne Bay currently rely on getting a service at either Charing or Barham which increases the length of travel time.

Services lasting 45 minutes will be held between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday and between 9am to 3pm on Saturdays.

It has been calculated that 146,700 people will be closer to the new crematorium than any of the other existing facilities.

A rival bid for a crematorium run by the Westerleigh Group, just 10 miles away in Herne Bay, remains undecided and is in the hands of Canterbury City Council.

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