THE threat of a public inquiry has made councillors back track over controversial plans for a crematorium in Radcliffe.

Planning bosses have granted unconditional approval to extend the period of time the international Crematorium Company has to submit applications for reserved matters, such as the design of the proposed £1.5 million crematorium.

If councillors had refused, it would have meant the company starting from scratch and applying for outline planning permission for the crematorium itself.

Bury Council originally granted such permission in 1996 and then gave the firm, then known as SCI, a 999-year lease of the land at the north east of Radcliffe's present cemetery, along with the outline planning permission.

When planning bosses refused to extend the reserved matters period this January, the Crematorium Company responded by calling for a public inquiry which could have been a major humiliation for Bury Council if it was found to be at fault.

At the planning meeting earlier this month, Councillor Mike Connolly warned: "An adverse decision at a public inquiry could cost the council taxpayers thousands of pounds if we were seen to be acting unreasonably."

He added: "I have supported the need for a crematorium all along and I think that this is the appropriate site. It is a very emotive subject and very sensitive, but I think we need to take a step back.

"We are not talking about approving detailed plans, that would come later."

Members were told that any refusal would depend on material changes since the application was last approved, and that none were apparent.

Councillor Denise Bigg said: "I feel that the application is out of time and by allowing it to go through we would set a precedent.

"We still have not got a detailed planning application and I feel that the applicant should go back to the drawing board and resubmit the application.

She added: "At the end of the day if you are going to go ahead and build a crematorium it should be in an area less obtrusive."

The decision has been a blow to residents who have fought against the crematorium from the beginning, objecting on the grounds of traffic, access, the effect on the environment and the general inappropriateness of having a crematorium so close to a residential area.

Mr Phil Holt, of Greenbank Road, said: "Planning law has not done its work. The company has hidden behind the existing outline planning permission to railroad this through rather than having the confidence in its scheme to let it stand on its own two feet.

"Sadly, having supported us previously, councillors seem to have been coerced to vote for it. There is no question that the threat of a public inquiry has forced their hand."

He added: "The company has now got to apply for full planning permission. We will scrutinise these plans very carefully and attempt to get it thrown out or extremely modified."