AN ENTREPRENEUR has revived his failed plans to create a crematorium on the outskirts of Kendal and this time he claims he has the backing of the clergy.

In Memorium a group of private investors headed by Kendal man Peter Michels, whose controversial plans for a crematorium in Gatebeck were rejected in 1999 is back with a new £2 million vision for a crematorium south of Kendal.

Although Mr Michels is keeping tight-lipped about the exact location of the six-acre site, he said plans were poised to be submitted to South Lakeland District Council within the next four to six weeks.

Five years on from the furore caused by his failed plans for a development at Gatebeck, Mr Michels believes the demand is there and the time is right to try again elsewhere.

"Our group has received many informed encouragements to put together a new application," he said. "We have written statements of need from the Church of England, the Methodist Church, the Roman Catholic Church, funeral directors and nursing homes. All of these organisations recognise the distress the absence of a local facility cause our people and make their job of caring for them impossibly difficult."

At the moment, funeral corteges have to travel to Lancaster, Barrow or Carlisle for cremations.

The Rev Nigel Davies, the Rural Dean of Kendal, said he had written to Mr Michels in support of his plans for a crematorium.

"We think it is a good idea, particularly pastorally. For relatives going down to Lancaster after a service in church it can be quite a traumatic event. On that basis, the clergy of the Kendal deanery thought it would be better to have a local crematorium."

Mr Davies's comments were echoed by Rev Derek Goddard, Priest-in-Charge of the Leven Valley Benefice, who said: "A crematorium is very much needed in our area from my point of view and from the bereaved relatives' point of view.

"I think it is very unfair that families have to travel during such a difficult time. The one to two hour drive to the crematorium also takes me away from the parish which, for me, is non-productive."

He added problems were also caused when services and cremations were held at different venues, making it difficult for relatives to decide where to hold the wake.

Mr Michels, who said the latest plans had taken about one year to form, said the 2001 Cumbrian census showed 25 per cent of citizens aged 75 or over lived in the South Lakes, demonstrating there was a call for such a facility in the area.

He added that he was "hopeful" SLDC planners would deem the new and undisclosed site acceptable, but was aware there would always be a backlash from those living in the vicinity of any such proposals.

"It is always the nimby's' who object. With Gatebeck it was only the nimby's' who complained. We feel we can prove to the council this time with all this support from professionals that there is a need for a crematorium."

In Memorium's appeal against the SLDC decision to reject plans for a Gatebeck crematorium was rejected on the grounds it would seriously harm the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside, and road safety issues.