Funeral parlour fears
05May08
OPPONENTS of a proposed funeral parlour for the Dava Drive shopping strip at Mornington are stepping up their fight against the plan.
Resident Robert Arnold, who has led the protest, said he had met with Liberal MPs David Morris and Bruce Billson to discuss residents' concerns.
"The traders in these shops are very concerned," Mr Morris said.
"I have a lot of sympathy for them."
Mr Arnold said he had been told of around five other cases across Melbourne about objections to new funeral parlours in commercial areas, some in residential zones.
He said in each case, the funeral parlours had been successful in their applications.
The Leader recently reported the applicant said many of the people's fears were "unfounded".
Bethel Funerals manager Ray Thomas said the shop would mainly operate as an office and that all mortuary work would be done at the company's Mitcham site.
Mr Thomas said viewings at the Dava Drive office would be infrequent and the hearse would be using the back entrance.
Mornington Peninsula Council statutory planning team leader Niall Sheehy said the application would be formally advertised after the submission of amended plans.
Mr Sheehy said community consultation would be held after the application advertising period.
