Crematorium bid receives approval

Councillors voted in favour of the plans for a crematorium

Councillors in the Borders have approved plans to build the region's first crematorium.

Planning officials had recommended approval for the proposal by the Bristol-based Westerleigh Group.

Members of Scottish Borders Council's, (SBC) planning committee voted 8-2 in favour of the scheme next to Waird's Cemetery near Melrose.

The application will now be referred to the Scottish government for final approval.

Opponents to the scheme had lodged a petition with the council objecting to the plans due to concerns about its visual and traffic impact.

However, a rival document was submitted to SBC in favour of the plans.

At present there is no crematorium in the Borders and people from the region have to travel to Edinburgh for cremations.