Funeral parlour cause of depression

Local opposition no reason to refuse planning permission

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I read in the Newcastle Journal of a planning battle over an application to open a funeral parlour in Stanley, County Durham. Objectors said it would depress elderly people living nearby, but the planning officer Fiona Clarke said that;

“local opposition isn’t a good enough reason to refuse planning permission”.

Raymond Ives, of the Pea Farm Residents’ Association said;

“A business like this would be more suited to an industrial unit. This is a residential area, the business would be out of keeping with this, and there are many other empty commercial premises in Stanley which could be used.”

We have funeral parlours in the main streets of many towns and for decades it was customary for some multi-skilled men to start a joinery and undertakers business combined. I don’t see massed depression in areas of South Shields like Westoe Road, Imeary Street, Stanhope Road, or The Nook where funeral directors operate, we seem remarkably happy to face the makers of wooden overcoats in our main retail areas.

Planning permission was granted.