Question mark hangs over Newark Cemetery development plans

A question mark hangs over plans to knock down the lodge in Newark Cemetery, felling century-old trees in the process.

The land at the London Road end of the cemetery, which is in the town conservation area, would then be given over to a children’s burial plot.

The idea has existed for years and has been subject to a planning application with the input of an architect.

Environmental campaigners opposed the felling of trees, which they said, if left to thrive, could live another 400 years ­— providing crucial habitat for wildlife and removing carbon dioxide along the heavily used London Road.

A bat survey conducted by the St George’s Trust for Conservation identified 196 bat calls from pipistrelles, brown long-eared bats and noctules in the cemetery, in one hour.

Of these, 29 calls were under the two pine trees to be felled.

Many new members elected to Newark Town Council in May have strong green credentials and were told by planning committee chairman Lisa Geary there was “a question mark over whether the whole project happens.”

The planning committee was meeting for the first time since the election, where most seasoned members lost their seats.

On the agenda was additional information provided by the architect in furtherance of the previous application to demolish Cemetery Lodge, alter the carpark, provide new staff welfare facilities, storage and vehicle storage and remove trees.

Town Clerk Matthew Gleadell said he was aware of an attempt to review a number of projects going forward.

Lisa Geary told new members that the committee did not really pass comment on planning applications it brought forward itself.

She said adding the further information to the application did not mean the children’s burial ground would be created in that spot, even if the district council granted permission, as they could decide as a council not to bring it forward.

Mr Gleadell added that the further information provided by the architect was nothing more than simply allowing him “to get it off his desk” and was a form of housekeeping.

The meeting also heard the two trees were both dedicated to people, one a former town clerk, and their families have been in touch with the council to ask about what is going on.