Delight as Shipley park is dropped from list of potential crematorium sites

However, a park in Queensbury will remain on the list of possible replacement crematoria locations.

Bradford Council sparked anger earlier this year when it announced that Northcliffe Park was one of three sites that it was considering to build a replacement for the ageing Nab Wood Crematorium.

Over 2,280 people signed a petition calling for the park to be removed from the list.

News that Littlemoor Park in Queensbury was on a shortlist of two sites to replace Scholemoor Crematorium met with similar criticism.

Both parks belong to trusts, and can only be used for the leisure and wellbeing of locals.

But the Council insisted it needed to look at all possible sites for the crematoria.

It was all part of a £17 million overhaul of Bereavement services in the district, which would include the refurbishment of Oakworth Crematorium and the extension of a Muslim burial site in Scholemoor Cemetery.

Bradford Council has now revealed that Northcliffe Park will be removed from the list of proposed sites due to “potentially insurmountable issues” that would prevent a crematorium from being built there.

However, the move may lead to the project costing more than its original budget, as the Council will now have to look towards buying a privately owned site to replace Nab Wood.

The decision to remove the park from the list will be finalised at a meeting of Bradford Council’s executive on January 8.

Littlemoor Park will likely remain on the list.

The other, privately owned sites have not been revealed for commercial reasons.

On Northcliffe Park, a report going to the committee says there would be “potentially insurmountable issues in forming safe access from a busy, steeply sloping road.

“Given the nature and severity of the constraints, it is therefore proposed to recommend removal of this park from the list of potential sites for a new crematorium.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “I am pleased we are making progress in choosing the right location for new crematoria.

“I know that the Friends of Northcliffe Park will be pleased to hear this news today. I know they have been very concerned. However this is a major investment in the district and its bereavement services for the future and we have very limited choice of sites. We have to explore every option.

“We need to progress these works due to the age of the existing facilities, ensuring that residents within the district have access to reliable, modern and up to date crematoria when they need to hold the funeral of a loved one.”

The Council had said existing crematoria were operating beyond their working life and currently fail to comply with DEFRA’s current air quality emission requirements. The need for "mercury abatement equipment" would mean the new crematoria would have to be much bigger than the existing facilities, and so could not be built at Nab Wood or Scholemoor.

Councillor Vick Jenkins (Lab, Shipley) was one of the councillors who opposed the Northcliffe plans. She said: “I am extremely pleased to hear this news that Northcliffe Park will no longer be one of the sites going forward to be considered for the crematoria. I know the Shipley community and people from the surrounding area who enjoy Northcliffe park will breathe a sigh of relief. I have worked alongside local people putting forward alternative ideas and suggestions for the crematoria including the fact we thought Northcliffe Park an unsuitable site and I welcome that this has also been the outcome of the feasibility study."

Stephen Blundell, who was one of the protesters against the Northcliffe plans, said: “This is a great result for Shipley, and I am proud to have worked with friends and neighbours as part of the Northcliffe Says No campaign.

“When we presented the petition in October it was one of the greatest displays of community solidarity ever seen at City Hall.”

The Executive will meet in City Hall at 10.30am on Tuesday, January 8.