GRIEVING families in the Maldon area will no longer need to travel very far for funerals if plans are approved for a new crematorium near Woodham Mortimer.

Families from Maldon attending funerals have to travel to Chelmsford crematorium or further afield to Basildon and Colchester.

Both Basildon and Chelmsford hold close to 2,500 cremations each year and ten per day.

Developer Elegy is planning to offer grieving families from the Maldon area a closer and "quieter" choice.

It is set to consult with residents on plans to build off Maldon Road, Woodham Mortimer, opposite St Margaret’s Church.

This is close to Maldon town and the developer says its "conveniently placed for the rest of the district".

The new crematorium would seat 100 people and hold just 4 funerals per day.

Elegy hopes this will provide a less rushed funeral experience than what it says families have to endure at the moment.

A minimum of an hour would be allowed for each service.

Elegy director Richard Evans said: "There is an urgent need to relieve the pressure on Chelmsford crematorium so that families have the chance to hold a more personal event close to home."

The developer says its crematorium has been sensitively designed to blend into the countryside with the building nestling into a parkland landscape with views over to the Maldon waters.

Mr Evans added: "We will create a natural, beautiful place with the existing landscape enhanced with extensive extra planting of trees, flowers, hedgerows and shrubs to create a spot befitting for a funeral."

Local Funeral Directors have praised the plans including Paul King who holds funerals from across the district.

He said: "I have long felt that there was a need for families from Maldon to have their own crematorium and I think Elegy have picked an ideal spot which will greatly reduce journey

times for bereaved families across the district.

"The building is very discreet and will sit against a woodland backdrop. I think it will offer something quite different and special."

A public exhibition of the plans will take place at Woodham Mortimer Village Hall on October 12 and 13.