Councillors bury plan for morgue (From Barry And District News)

Councillors bury plan for morgue

"PEOPLE'S sensitivity" has stopped a morgue being developed just metres from residential properties.

But funeral director John Pidgeon has slammed the Vale of Glamorgan Council's decision to refuse his application, calling it "ill-judged", and has threatened to take action against the finding.

Mr Pidgeon, managing director of James Pidgeon and Son Ltd, applied to the council to situate a cold store room for bodies at his funeral business on Court Road, Barry.

However, residents in the surrounding properties were not keen on the application, and launched a campaign to stop Mr Pidgeon's plans.

On Thursday, at a meeting of the council's planning committee, they discovered their campaign had been successful when councillors voted to refuse the application.

Valerie Hicks, an Ilminster Close resident, said on behelf of the residents: "We are all ecstatic. We would like to thank the Vale of Glamorgan Council councillors who voted against the plans.

"Deep down I knew the councillors would oppose the application when they came to see it for themselves.

Residents opposed the plans because they believed the construction would terrify their children; their peace would be ruined by the noise coming from the coolers; property values would plummet; and there would be disruption during building work.

Cllr Richard Bertin said: "I am glad the committee listened to what the people said.

"They fought a good campaign and I hope now that the applicants will listen to the views of the residents."

Conservative councillor Anthony Hampton said at the meeting: "The funeral directors have been there since 1894 and what was right then is not necessarily right in 2006."