REDDITCH Borough Council’s Planning Committee is set to consider an application to change an area of Arrow Valley Country Park to burial ground tonight (Wednesday, October 13).

The committee will consider the application for the site off Ipsley Church Lane at its meeting at Redditch Town Hall, starting at 7pm.

It has been recommended the change of use is granted subject to conditions.

After two rounds of public consultation the planning application, which was lodged in August 2020, has received 834 objections and 13 letters in support.

The plans highlight that “space for burial is diminishing in the borough” and the cemetery could provide enough land for between 60 and 70 years of use.

Council officers say that Abbey Cemetery us almost at capacity and “unless the council takes positive action then after 2021 there will be no burial space”.

The proposals could see 11 acres of open land turned into 8,000 burial plots.

Some residents say the change of use would be a loss to the Ipsley community, as the land is used for recreational purposes. Others are fearful of the impact on wildlife and feel the land should be left untouched.

Due to the significant public interest, the meeting will be streamed via the council’s YouTube channel.