I am concerned at the increased pressure on Hale Road in Farnham between the Six Bells roundabout and St John’s Church. Air Quality Monitoring figures show Hale Road outside St John’s Church has some of the worst pollution in the whole of Waverley – and latest trends are up, not down.

The adjacent lay-by supports access to Daniele’s Sicilian Restaurant, attendees at church services, weddings and funerals, and a roster of road-side food trucks.

No burials have taken place at Farnham Park Cemetery, also accessed from the lay-by, since approval in 2010, but the portion allocated as a graveyard is now being marketed as Imaan Gardens. This company, based in Birmingham, promises flat-rate affordable burials for all Muslims from any part of the country and is intending to commence interments within weeks.

The main ‘woodland burial’ section is currently at application (WA/2023/00087) for a large ceremony building holding up to 180 attendees, for the sole use of the Ismaili faith community based in London, as the applicants state in their Travel Plan.

How can it be considered supportable, in these days when Waverley Borough Council has declared a Climate Emergency, to encourage large numbers of cars to travel over 30 miles for the purpose of burying their loved ones and later visiting their graves?

A considerable increase in the carbon footprint would be generated; with up to six ceremonies proposed per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the potential for congestion, with associated increased pollution, is very high.

The proposal does not benefit the local community in any way, rather it will actively contribute to worsen conditions for residents. The creation of a pedestrian / cycleway down through the site to make life safer and healthier and support active travel was rejected out of hand by the applicants as undesirable and infeasible.

Responding to the Climate Emergency involves making one sensible decision at a time and Waverley should demonstrate their commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change by making the sensible decision to refuse the application.

Janette Gallini

Upper Weybourne Lane, Farnham