COUNTRYSIDE campaigners were staging a demonstration today in protest at plans to build a crematorium on green belt land in Hampshire.

Placard-waving protesters were gathering gathered beside the proposed site in Stem Lane, New Milton, to voice their anger at the multi-million-pound scheme.

They are also highly critical of a separate plan to construct about 300 homes on green belt land west of Stem Lane.

The proposed new crematorium aims to prevent mourners having to drive to existing facilities in Bournemouth and Southampton but more than 100 people have lodged objections to the scheme.

As reported in the Daily Echo, protesters say it will create extra traffic problems as well as producing potentially harmful emissions.

They also fear that property values in the Stem Lane area will plummet if the £2 million project is given the go-ahead.

Members of New Forest District Council are being recommended to approve the application at a meeting of the planning and development control committee next Wednesday.

However, campaigners are due to lobby the committee in a last-ditch attempt to defeat the scheme.

One of the protest leaders, Laura Weaver, who lives on New Milton’s Crest Estate, said: “I was born here, I’ve grown up here and I’ve seen many changes.

“I would prefer to look out across the countryside we still have left and not see us surrounded by concrete. I don’t want us to merge into one big urbanisation – many residents think that’s what’s happening.”

The application has been submitted by the recently-formed New Forest Crematorium Company.

Responding to objectors, director Jeremy Hinton said traffic volumes would be ‘much lower’ than perceived, with vehicle movements taking place outside peak periods. He added: “Highway officials at Hampshire County Council agree that this is a reasonable development given the low usage and the hours of operation.

“We have focused extremely closely on the issue of air quality and are proposing to use the latest technology, which will make the emissions negligible and immaterial off-site.

“This is not like the bad old days – sites are heavily regulated and constantly audited.”

Voicing his hopes that the scheme would be approved Mr Hinton said he was convinced that concerns surrounding the proposed new facility would disappear once it was operational.

The application is backed by New Milton Residents’ Association and the town council.

New Milton councillor Steve Davies said: “This part of the New Forest will benefit hugely from the development, which will provide a service to our community.

“Concerns over the possible impact on local residents have been mitigated.”