Meeting of the Parliament 22 March 2016
No.
“We therefore recommend the Scottish Government takes cognisance of the issues raised and, in discussion with planning colleagues, brings forward an amendment at stage 2 which addresses these concerns.”
The committee was concerned enough to make that recommendation in its report, whereby it asked the Government to address the issue at stage 2. The Government did not lodge an appropriate amendment at stage 2 and, today, it seeks to remove section 42A, which my stage 2 amendment inserted in the bill.
We also received written evidence from Falkirk Council, which has the experience of having housing built up to 110 yards from an existing crematorium. In its submission, it says:
“We disagree with removing the existing provision which restricts the proximity of new crematoria to housing. In our view there are risks involved in reducing or removing the 200 yards limit. In the case of Falkirk Council’s crematorium, an extensive area of new housing has been developed to within 110 yards of the crematorium buildings.”
It goes on to say that the
“degree of separation should not be determined by the planning process alone, because policies and provisions in Local Development Plan can be overturned on appeal by developers.”
That is part of the issue. We need to be reassured that Scottish planning policy will address the issues that have been raised, but Scottish planning policy can be amended and changed, and the decisions of local planning authorities can be overturned by developers on appeal.
Therefore, it is clear that there is a need to retain in the bill provisions that protect not only crematoria, but local authorities in maintaining the barrier between crematoria and new housing developments against the wishes of developers.
I ask the Parliament to oppose amendment 75.