NEIGHBOURS have voiced concerns about proposals suggesting a morgue may have been operating in their residential street.

Residents living in and around Coles Avenue, Hamworthy, Poole, were stunned after a retrospective planning application was lodged with BCP Council last month in relation to a funeral directors.

This application, as stated in the covering letter available on the council’s public online planning portal, is for the designated change of use at a Coles Avenue building from residential to retail.

Documentation accompanying the proposal, submitted by Dorset Property Services on behalf of Mr R Hilder, states: “The property as a whole comprises a semi-detached house with off-road parking at the front; a hard-surfaced path running along the side of the dwelling with the back garden having been divided to leave a garden for use by the dwelling, but with the end section complete with the outbuilding being used for storage purposes in connection with a funeral directors.”

This, coupled with an attachment summary lodged on the portal which names the proposals as a ‘morgue’ has fuelled neighbours’ concerns – and even some from other undertakers.

Commenting on the proposals online, Malcolm Brown of Sibbett Gregory – writing on behalf of Tapper Funeral Services – said: “It is not clear from the application exactly what the premises are being used for.

“Is it just for storage such as storing coffins? Is it the storage of bodies? The title of the application on the planning portal is ‘morgue’.”

Mr Brown also stressed the site is surrounded by family housing.

“This is not an appropriate location for such a use,” he said. “It would impact on the living conditions of neighbouring residents.”

Joanne Ayles, of Coles Avenue, objects to the plans.

In her letter lodged with BCP Council, she said: “There are lots of family down this road with children I have a 13-year-old and I don’t think this is the right area for it to be situated.”

Neighbour Wayne Elleby said: “I don’t think this is the right area to have this type of business this is much a family road with children and adults. ”

However, neighbour Karen Morby said: “If they have been using it for the last 12 months without anyone realising what they were doing, it won’t cause problems in the future.”

Neither Dorset Property Services nor Mr Hilder were available for comment.