CITY dwellers fear more funerals would spoil their semi-rural existence.

New Manchester residents - who live in "The City" area between Mosley Common and Worsley - are up in arms about crematorium plans at the existing green field cemetery. They say life in their village would be a "nightmare" if plans go ahead for cremation facilities at New Manchester Woodlands Cemetery.

And they have petitioned planners and councillors opposing the idea.

City Road resident Wayne Goldie highlighted objectors' fears and claimed traffic problems were already on the increase.

He said: "Access to the site is past a playing field and on occasions nearly 50 cars double park along this road. We have been in touch with several crematoriums to try and ascertain what the likely increase in traffic would be.

"At Overdale there are an average 769 cremations a week with an average 10 cars per funeral - that's 7,690 cars per week. At Lower Ince 1,300 cremations a year is an average 25 per week and 250 cars."

And he asked: "How is a small community like ours expected to cope with this level of traffic?

"We feel this is a monster project with no consideration for highway safety and environmental health problems this will cause us as a family and community."

Lower New Row resident Gergory Howard said: "I have lived in the Mosley Common area all my life and have seen the systematic development of almost all the Green belt land for housing or industrial use. This area should be saved at all costs. I realise the need for a crematorium, but surely a more suitable location can be found."

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