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30
Aug
Car dealer expansion prompts noise fears at Stonefall Cemetery
Harrogate Town Council has raised “serious concerns” that the expansion of a used car dealership could disturb the peace at Stonefall Cemetery.
Carlingo has submitted a retrospective planning application to extend its premises on Wetherby Road.
The extended area borders with the cemetery, which contains nearly 1,000 Commonwealth war graves and is also used for about 1,650 cremations each year.
Members of the town council’s planning committee, which met on Wednesday (August 27), sought reassurances that the expansion would not impact Stonefall visitors.
Its submission to North Yorkshire Council, which will adjudicate on the application, said it “acknowledges the potential for economic activity and investment that the development may bring” but adds:
However, the location of the proposed use directly adjacent to Stonefall Cemetery, a site of quiet reflection and historical significance, raises serious concerns about potential noise impacts.
Stonefall Cemetery is not only a place of remembrance but also houses Commonwealth war graves, and preserving its tranquil character is paramount.
Carlingo
It recommends planning permission be withheld unless an acoustic survey is conducted to assess the development’s likely noise impact on the cemetery.
The town council added fencing, restrictions on hours of operation and landscaping buffers be considered to mitigate any concerns identified.
It concluded: “The council does not object to the principle of the development but requests that due consideration is given to protecting the peace and dignity of Stonefall Cemetery. Appropriate acoustic safeguards should be secured by condition to prevent harm to amenity.”
Stonefall Cemetery
Carlingo opened in Harrogate on the former Evans Halshaw site in 2022.
According to planning documents, the expansion would increase staff numbers from 41 to 63.
The Stray Ferret asked Carlingo to respond to the town council’s concerns but has not had a response.
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