Further statement on Haslingden Cemetery

We know the application to the traffic commissioner to extend our vehicle operational licence at Haslingden Cemetery has caused a lot of community concern so we wanted to clarify a few points further.

Thank you for everyone who got in touch with us. It was never our intention to upset or anger grieving relatives who have loved ones buried there. We are sorry to have caused any upset although it has been unfortunate that wrong information about the application has been circulating in the public domain which we are sure would have increased people’s distress.

The application mentions six vehicles as it’s a transfer of the operator’s licence from the Whitaker.

But we confirm that only two caged five tonne vehicles, a mower and our tree maintenance vehicle will be housed there.

Furthermore, we absolutely guarantee that no refuse trucks will ever be relocated there now or anytime in the future.

Following on from the response from concerned residents and cemetery users, and direction by the leader of the Council and portfolio holder, we rechecked the legality of using the side road for the vehicles we plan to base there. We now are confident we have the legal rights to use it and the vehicles will use that instead of the front of the cemetery.

As such, we will no longer look to make changes to the cemetery access road and will withdraw that part of the recent tender we published.

It is not unusual for vehicles such as the ones we are planning to place there to be in cemeteries. We will continue to make sure they will not disturb or cause distress to anyone visiting the cemetery.

We hope that provides further reassurance to people.