Renewed attempts to build Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown's first crematorium are being fought by residents after the original plans were rejected by An Bord Pleanála.
Supporters say the facility is an essential addition to the area with cremation becoming an increasingly popular and more affordable alternative to traditional burial.
It relates to lands at Ballycorus in Kilternan, Dublin adjacent to a new cemetery currently under development.
However, the crematorium is unpopular with the local community and was refused planning permission in 2012 as it was in contravention of local zoning. It successfully withstood a subsequent High Court challenge.
The issue has emerged again with a motion that would allow for its inclusion as a “special local objective” (SLO) in the Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown development plan to be considered today.
In a report on the various proposed amendments, council chief executive Philomena Poole “fundamentally disagreed” with the SLO as it would essentially permit a “bespoke” development on agricultural land.
Fine Gael councillor Neale Richmond, who tabled the original SLO motion last October, said previous efforts to build the crematorium were defeated on zoning grounds and that its provision would be an important addition to the county.
Traffic hazard
Other factors considered in the original planning process included the potential traffic hazard, insufficient parking and proximity to people’s homes.
If adopted today, the SLO would allow for a crematorium to be “permitted in principle” specific to the site in question, a move that could precipitate a renewed planning application.
"Ireland lags well behind its European counterparts in terms of the numbers of crematoria per head of population," Mr Richmond said in his motion. "At present 40 per cent of all funerals in the country take place in a crematorium, and there are only four crematoria operating in the Republic of Ireland."
Opponents dispute that statistic, putting it closer to 15 per cent.
Proposed amendment
In Dublin, there are crematoriums at Glasnevin, Newlands Cross and Mount Jerome.
“A crematorium would be entirely complementary to the permitted cemetery at this location and would be suitable in principle having regard to the location, layout and landscaped setting of the site,” Mr Richmond said.
The proposed amendment to the development plan attracted considerable local objection among 34 submissions in the public consultation phase and was criticised by the local authority’s chief executive.
Ms Poole said it amounted to the promotion of “radical changes” to the zoning “Objective B” which is to protect and improve rural amenities and develop agriculture.
‘Inequitable’
“To artificially introduce a new ‘permitted in principle’ crematorium land use onto a single, exclusive site . . . is patently inequitable and completely undermines the fundamental premise and rationale behind the very purpose of having a suite of tailored and targeted land use zoning objectives across the different and varied parts of the county,” she wrote.
Ballycorus residents remain strongly opposed to the location of the proposed facility. “The site is simply unsuitable and poses serious health and safety concerns,” said spokesman Colman Curran.
“It is on a bad bend on a narrow country road with absolutely no public transport or infrastructure. The residents are not against the goal of a crematorium in the county. Residents are particularly disappointed with the manner in which this failed planning permission is being recycled.”
