PLANS to build a £2million crematorium on green belt land in the New Forest have been approved by planners.

Outline permission was granted for the chapel and parking at the site in ~Stem Lane, New Milton - despite the fact that more than 100 people had lodged objections to the scheme.

A protest was held at the site last Saturday (Sept10) by campaigners who fear the plans will create extra traffic problems as well as producing potentially harmful emissions.

They also fear that property values in the Stem Lane area will plummet.

However the recently-formed New Forest Crematorium Company, which is behind the scheme, said it would meet local demand as it would prevent mourners having to drive to existing facilities in Bournemouth and Southampton.

The plans, which include parking for 100 cars and a ceremony hall for 100 seated and 100 standing, were approved by the New forest District Council on Wednesday (Sept14).

It had been recommended for approval by officers and was also backed by New Milton Residents’ Association and the town council.

New Milton councillor Steve Davies said: “This part of the New Forest will benefit hugely from the development, which will provide a service to our community.

“Concerns over the possible impact on local residents have been mitigated.”

However, one of the protest leaders, Laura Weaver, who lives on New Milton’s Crest Estate, said: “I was born here, I’ve grown up here and I’ve seen many changes.

“I would prefer to look out across the countryside we still have left and not see us surrounded by concrete. I don’t want us to merge into one big urbanisation – many residents think that’s what’s happening.”

Responding to objectors, director Jeremy Hinton said traffic volumes would be ‘much lower’ than perceived, with vehicle movements taking place outside peak periods.

He added: “Highway officials at Hampshire County Council agree that this is a reasonable development given the low usage and the hours of operation.

“We have focused extremely closely on the issue of air quality and are proposing to use the latest technology, which will make the emissions negligible and immaterial off-site.

“This is not like the bad old days – sites are heavily regulated and constantly audited.”

Mr Hinton added he was convinced that concerns surrounding the proposed new facility would disappear once it was operational.