Funeral directors will disturb my children, claims resident in Little Marlow Road, Marlow

7:00am Sunday 20th January 2013 in News By James Nadal

Funeral directors will disturb my children, claims resident Funeral directors will disturb my children, claims resident

PLANS to turn a former wedding shop into a funeral directors should be turned down because the work carried out by an undertaker's firm may disturb young children living next door, a resident says.

Arnold Funeral Service, based in Wethered Road, wants to move into The Wedding Centre in Little Marlow Road but some neighbours are opposing the move.

The Wedding Centre shut down around two months ago after 21 years of business.

Some residents living close to the site have written to Wycombe District Council asking for the proposal to be rejected.

Rebecca Jenkins, who lives next door in Little Marlow Road, said it went against council planning policies to safeguard residents.

"Such a use is a disturbance for residents and particularly young children such as my own who may be uncomfortable with such operations being undertaken in view from their home and in such close proximity," she wrote.

"This location in Marlow is a residential area and the site is fully surrounded by residential dwellings, many of which overlook the site.

"As such, it is not in keeping with surroundings to permit such a commercial/retail use.

"In addition, the specific use as an undertaker compounds the unsuitability of the premises as such operations should be undertaken in established retail/commercial use areas which generally do not impinge on residential areas and residents' enjoyment of their immediate locality."

Jonathan and Natasha Hargreaves, also of Little Marlow Road, said in a joint letter: "We would hope that they are rejected on the basis that this site is unsuitable for the proposed use and would provide for retail use within a designated residential area."

Property and planning agents Brown Associates, working on behalf of Arnold, said this week they had no comment to make at this stage.

However, in its application, the agent argues the plan is an appropriate change of use, saying it will be "discreet, peaceful and low key", with low levels of traffic.

It explains the funeral director has outgrown its existing premises and needs more space.

Planning officials will now rule on the application and comments can be made via the planning section of the council's website. www.wycombe.gov.uk.

Use reference 12/07797/FUL to see the plans.

Comments(26)

buser says...
11:08am Sun 20 Jan 13

Isn't it sad that we cannot 'choose our neighbours"? If you buy a home, or choose to live next door to a retail outlet, you take pot-luck along with the rest of us. Possibly there are a limited number of businesses able to utilise these premises for commercial gain. Would a fish and chip shop be more acceptable? I doubt it! There was quite an uproar from the neighbours when such a premises was granted planning permission in a village near us. As one head teacher used to regularly tell the morning assembly, 'there are two certainties in life, one you are born and one you will die". Unfortunately, even children have to live with these facts. Funeral Parlours, alias undertakers, are a necessary part of life and have to be located somewhere. If planning permission is granted and that happens to be next door to you, and you don't like it, you have choices, accept it , move, or quietly explain the facts of life to the children and get on with it. Unfortunately, we cannot shield our children from the less pleasant aspects of this life.

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deecee01 says...
11:18am Sun 20 Jan 13

Aah, the poor Marlovian NIMBY's, as said above, there are only two certain things in life - you are born and you will die. Would serve them right if a fast food restaurant set up there instead. Get over yourselves Marlow, you're not that great!

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shandee says...
12:19pm Sun 20 Jan 13

well said buser. marlow's full of stuck up tossers.

no.... i'll take it back. build a drive through mc'donalds there and lets bring marlow into the 21st centry and incease the scum level in marlow...

is that what you soon to be neighbours with arnolds want ?

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demoness the second says...
1:34pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Teehee.. Marlovians really do not help their cause do they?

Death is a part of life.. far better a funeral parlour than a kebab stall or nightclub. That would really offend the sensibilities...

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buser says...
1:39pm Sun 20 Jan 13

shandee wrote:
well said buser. marlow's full of stuck up tossers.

no.... i'll take it back. build a drive through mc'donalds there and lets bring marlow into the 21st centry and incease the scum level in marlow...

is that what you soon to be neighbours with arnolds want ?
I truthfully am not having a pop at Marlow residents in general, I have some well grounded friends and relatives who live there. For me it is the notion that such an outlet 'will upset the children', which seems a lame excuse as we have to live with death as a part of life and children have to accept this. This excuse would seem to be a cover for their own distaste which may or may not be grounded in snobbery. I guess 'next to the wedding boutique' sounded more acceptable than 'next to the funeral parlour' but as I have said, 'we can choose where we live but unfortunately, we cannot dictate who may or may not live next door.'

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switzerland says...
1:42pm Sun 20 Jan 13

I agree with Buser. These people really need to get into the real world.

Have any of them actually visited a modern funeral parlour?
To listen to their bleating about what their children would see is a lame excuse. You would think that this business was a glass building where children etc. would be able to see coffins being made; corpses being transported and prepared ready for their funeral service.

None of this is possible for their children to see as today the deceased are transported in specially converted vehicles which look like ordinary ones and no one can see into. The only opportunity to see this may be when a coffin containing the deceased is transferred from funeral home into hearse.

Dignity and discretion is how these businesses work. Oh and I have no connection with any funeral company and would have no problems living next door to one - no disrespect but rather this than a taxi company or foodstore.

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buser says...
1:56pm Sun 20 Jan 13

demoness the second wrote:
Teehee.. Marlovians really do not help their cause do they?

Death is a part of life.. far better a funeral parlour than a kebab stall or nightclub. That would really offend the sensibilities...
Oh you do have some fun ideas! How about, knock the shop,down and let a few travellers use it? That might liven up the area for them and just think what fun the children could have playing with next doors kids!

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Scarletto says...
2:36pm Sun 20 Jan 13

I also have good friends in Marlow and generally the residents seem very nice, refined people.
It's a pity therefore that people are opposed to a firm of undertakers moving in.
There's a funeral firm in Rose Avenue, Hazlemere, next to the Co-op and among hundreds of houses and flats. They seem to function quietly and efficiently without complaint even though there are flats over the business. Also, it's useful to have such a business close to home when sad moments very occasionally come in our family's lives.
Vans and hearses come and go quietly with the dead, without causing disturbance.
Undertakers perform a useful, vital and lucrative service. Should they be tucked away out of sight on trading estates etc?
Better than chip shops, pizza takeaways, restaurants etc etc close to our homes.

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gpn01 says...
3:05pm Sun 20 Jan 13

The objection is without foundation as we all live and die and dying is perfectly normal. These objectors are like those who complain about aircraft noise and then fly abroad on holiday.

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demoness the second says...
3:16pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Do you think they are worried about the Zombie potential?

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shandee says...
3:21pm Sun 20 Jan 13

if the hearses were 4x4's and they only provided solid gold caskets then i dont think the marlow people would mind

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chris740 says...
4:26pm Sun 20 Jan 13

its all carried out behind closed doors ,
its not that there dealing with the dead in the back garden.

lot better than a private shop opening ie sex shop

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buser says...
4:39pm Sun 20 Jan 13

chris740 wrote:
its all carried out behind closed doors ,
its not that there dealing with the dead in the back garden.

lot better than a private shop opening ie sex shop
Now that could fulfil a real need, corner a niche in the market etc. as far as I know, there is no such outlet in Marlow or the surrounding district. Does one spot a business opportunity here? Does 'next to the sex shop', sound okay when directing friends or business associates to your home for supper? It has a ring to it I feel. Well thought out chris470!

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sparky49 says...
5:02pm Sun 20 Jan 13

The ,Jenkins, and Hargreaves object to it being next to residents as it may upset their children. Hello. Where is Arnold's at the moment? Next to a school and cemetery. Another example of new money Marlow thinking they are better than the rest of us, these are probably the same people who moaned about the Plough. With names like Johnathan, Rebecca and Natasha they sound like outsiders to me.

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buser says...
5:41pm Sun 20 Jan 13

That just reminds me! Many years ago I attended a local school which required its pupils to access the playing fields, in orderly and demure fashion of course, via the cemetery. The local Nursing Home bordered the afore said as did Godstowe School. To be sure, dear Deamoness, you are right, the zombies didn't attack and there are no records to suggest that any of us suffered any undue mental disorders from our experiences mind you, we did have our jolly hockey sticks to ward off any evil spirits en route. The old school site is now a housing development where presumably children reside happily and safely and Hamilton Primary School overlooks the cemetery.

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Marlow77 says...
5:52pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Who brought this property? Was it Shanleys crew?

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buser says...
6:00pm Sun 20 Jan 13

No idea, but they had to keep the front building facade which had been the original High Wycombe High School,for girls. No doubt Ivor can write a quick blog,on the history and subsequent desecration of the site.

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demoness the second says...
6:27pm Sun 20 Jan 13

buser wrote:
That just reminds me! Many years ago I attended a local school which required its pupils to access the playing fields, in orderly and demure fashion of course, via the cemetery. The local Nursing Home bordered the afore said as did Godstowe School. To be sure, dear Deamoness, you are right, the zombies didn't attack and there are no records to suggest that any of us suffered any undue mental disorders from our experiences mind you, we did have our jolly hockey sticks to ward off any evil spirits en route. The old school site is now a housing development where presumably children reside happily and safely and Hamilton Primary School overlooks the cemetery.
You went to Lady Verney!!!!

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demoness the second says...
6:27pm Sun 20 Jan 13

buser wrote:
No idea, but they had to keep the front building facade which had been the original High Wycombe High School,for girls. No doubt Ivor can write a quick blog,on the history and subsequent desecration of the site.
Dear god .. I do hope he does not :D

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Honey33 says...
6:34pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Business opportunity, its coming to your doorsteps, accept it, if still worried then let me tell you, it will stop your children watching horror movies, see, it will be a blessing in disguise,

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peesh64 says...
8:34pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Thought she would be happy having a house so close to the dead centre of town.

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geoffW says...
9:12pm Sun 20 Jan 13

demoness the second wrote:
Do you think they are worried about the Zombie potential?
I hope their kids are quiet and well behaved.

My mum used to say that us kids made make enough noise to wake the dead.

Maybe they should try it and see!

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buftonp13 says...
9:15pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Get a life who do these stuck up people think they are. How can they think they can pick and choose which type of buisness uses the premesis. Its not like its going to be a brothel or a night club. Her kids need to be brought in to the real world if she thinks it will disturb them.
At least the funeral companys are still doing well in these hard economic times, i may have to change jobs. worth a though

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BucksComment says...
9:26am Mon 21 Jan 13

Better the sombre slow movement of a hearse than the rabid 4x4 bridezillas who used to block the road every weekend

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jayeatman says...
2:13pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I cannot think of a quieter more low profile business than an undertakers. If only all neighbours were that quiet!
Of course, planning officers are profession NIMBY spotters so they will take little notice. That cannot always be said of their political masters who sit on the planning committees. Unfortunately NIMBYs are voters too and and at the most vociferous end of the spectrum.

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marlowbucks says...
8:04pm Wed 23 Jan 13

deecee01 wrote:
Aah, the poor Marlovian NIMBY's, as said above, there are only two certain things in life - you are born and you will die. Would serve them right if a fast food restaurant set up there instead. Get over yourselves Marlow, you're not that great!
deecee01 wrote:
Get over yourselves Marlow, you're not that great!
Oh, yes we are! :)

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