A TINY Llŷn Peninsula village which “urgently” needed more space to bury its dead has been granted approval to expand into farmland.
Burial space was rapidly running out at the tiny village of Tudweiliog, with only room for two or three more burials left at the existing cemetery by the church.
Cyngor Gwynedd planners agreed to a scheme to develop an L-shaped piece of land, approximately 0.36 hectares, which has been used for grazing and grass crops.
The full application to create the new facility to the west of Ysgol Gynradd Tudweiliog was agreed with conditions.
A planning report stated the existing cemetery was almost “at full capacity.”
“There is an urgent need for additional burial space for the residents of Tudweiliog and surrounding area,” it said. The application was made by Tudweiliog Community Council.
It had proposed a change in the use of the land and to create a new public cemetery for 393 graves, and the land was considered “the only site possible”.
It would involve the creation of a new vehicular access, walkway, car park and landscaping and erection of an earthen ‘clawdd’ or bank.
It also included development of a parking area for 24 vehicles with spaces for disabled users and a separate parking and turning area for undertakers’ vehicles.
Plans noted that the site and surrounding area fell within the Western Llŷn Special Landscape Area and the Llŷn and Enlli Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest designations.
One letter of correspondence was received by planners.
A planning report noted that the school’s head and governors supported the principle of the development.
But the site was west of the school, and there were some concerns that visitors to the cemetery would use a narrow road bordering the school.
A letter stated: “There are no arrangements submitted in terms of traffic impact control and mitigation as part of the application.
“Therefore, concern must be expressed that there would be a significant increase in the number of vehicles using the narrow road at times when children and their parents arrive and leave school, and this raises safety issues.”
It was also noted that “at times when the car park would be full, it is likely that the school car park would be used, as there were no suitable parking spaces nearby.
“This would not be a concern on weekends, or when the school is closed. But it would raise safety concerns if the car park was used during the school term as it is used by school staff, visitors, parents and the school bus” it had written.
The school had requested that traffic management and mitigation and parking procedures be agreed.
Consideration would be given to the issues, and planners had considered that the proposal conformed with policies and was acceptable for approval.
Ten conditions were imposed including an agreement on a transport/parking management plan, landscaping and protection of a public footpath.
The local member councillor Gareth Tudor Jones told the meeting the need for the burial land was “urgent”.
Finding a suitable site had seen “a lot of hard work” and “extensive discussions” by the community council and landowners, to research and assess the viability and suitability” of land surrounding the village, he said.
The route, he said, would see the public passing the car park of the Lion Hotel, a nearby pub, adding that it was more than likely that some attending funerals would park there, going for refreshments after.
Although he was governor at Ysgol Tudweiliog, he had not been present when the matter had been discussed, but knew now the school was “supportive” of the application.
The council’s monitoring officer Iwan Evans noted the councillor was a governor and would need to register an interest.
Cllr Anne Lloyd Jones proposed approval, seconded by Cllr Gruff Williams. It was passed with nine votes.
