Angry residents have spoken out against plans to turn a 15-acre grassland area next to their homes

into huge cemetery.

Pendle Borough Council has submitted an application to build a Muslim cemetery with over 70 car parking spaces on land in Brierfield, Lancs.

More than 20 residents have objected to the application, calling the plans ‘absurd', raising concerns over drainage and the effect on local wildlife.

Others have also questioned why there is no provision for multi-faith burials.

Jen Lomax, 82, has lived on a road adjacent to the planned field for over 50 years.



The retired bookkeeper is adamant that she does not want to live next to a cemetery.

Grandma Jen used to take her three grandchildren for walks on the field. Now, she's worried about the impact building a cemetery could have on local wildlife.

Jen said: "I think we would be outnumbered with vehicles parking on our street. It's bad enough parking on here at the best of times."

"There's a lot of wildlife up there as well, families of deer live there, we get owls, pheasants, loads of different birds. It's nice and peaceful."

"I think it would be a big loss to the area."

A report by the council says the only other cemetery in the area with provision for Muslim burials, which opened in 1895, is running out of space.

As a result, planners want to level the current grassland to make the new burial ground.

A planning report states: "Population projections indicate that the Muslim population in Pendle accounts for 18.5 per cent of the total population, with 68 per cent of burials in the Nelson cemetery being Muslim. "

"Considering the faith requirements for Muslim burials, it is crucial to provide appropriate burial facilities that align with Islamic customs. "

"The proposed cemetery will address this need, offering suitable burial plots for the Muslim community." "

The proposals include "significant large scale tree planting" to create woodland areas- in order to improve the area's biodiversity and increase the amenity value for local residents. "

Linda Berry, who has lived in the area for 38 years, said: "Lots of people come on this field with their dogs and just to sit and talk and play, lots of children here play in the summertime – but it is very boggy."

"I hope it won't be built, it will have a big impact on the residents around here."

"I don't think it's suitable at all, because it's too boggy, plus the access to it is through an estate, we've got two schools at the bottom of the estate."

"At three o'clock it's just chock-a-block on that main road, and we don't need more traffic." "

There is one supportive comment on the cemetery's planning application.

An unidentified resident said: "People who want their remains to be buried, need to have somewhere local they can be buried. "

"As the local burial sites are almost full, this site provides a suitable location. No objection."

Pendle Borough Council's assistant director of planning Neil Watson said: "We are currently in the consultation phase and would encourage local people to look at the plans and register their comments on the planning portal."

*Planners are considering proposals for Britain's biggest muslim cemetery to be created on a 45 acre site near Blackburn, Lancs.