RESIDENTS have voiced concerns over plans to build a crematorium near Bassaleg School.

The proposals to build a crematorium and remembrance garden have been put forward by developers Blairgar Ltd.

The development is proposed at a 3.76 hectare field south of the school site. The crematorium would be 200 yards from the junior's school building.

A public consultation in Graig Community Hall was held yesterday in which 60 people had attended by lunch time. Asbri Planning, consultants representing the developers, said they expected to reach at least 100 people by the end of the day.

Newport councillors Margaret Cornelious and David Williams, who represent the Graig ward, said they had both received calls from concerned residents.

Councillor Cornelious said: "From my point of view I am very concerned about traffic as it's a very busy single traffic road.

“I also feel it is too close to the junior school where 11-year-olds might be sensitive to seeing hearses coming and going. It just seems inappropriate to be adjacent to the junior school."

Vehicle access will be east of the Griffin but residents say this road is too narrow and is very congested during school start and end times.

Thelma Clifford, aged 71, of Church Crescent, said: "I'm not very happy about the plans. It is not the best place for it to go. The traffic is already terrible around Bassaleg - it's going to be horrendous.

“I don't think the nursery children should be seeing a hearse coming up the road when they are leaving school either."

Sheila Martyn, aged 76, of Grosvenor Road, said: "I think it's terrible. It's right next to the school and people living on the Griffin - they didn't know about it.

"I don' think the public consultation was as publicised as it should have been."

Asbri Planning said they have had exploratory conversations with 17 local funeral directors in the area who say another Gwent crematorium in needed as the site in Cwmbran has waiting times of up to three weeks.

Matt Gray, a planning consultant for Asbri Planning, said: "I think it is understood there is a need for another crematorium. There has been a mixed reaction from residents today.”

He said the crematorium would hold services from 10am to 4pm but said they are open to looking at putting a contingency in place to prohibit hearses leaving at the same time as pupils leave for the day.

Developers estimated plans will be submitted to Newport City Council in September.