A pioneering wildlife trust has gained planning permission for 50 'green burial' sites in North Yorkshire.

AB Welfare and Wildlife Trust's application to carry out biodegradable burials at the New Road site in Scotton, near Harrogate, was approved by Harrogate Borough Council after plans were originally rejected six months ago.

Council spokesman Neville Watson confirmed that permission for the sites had finally been granted. The initial proposal had included renovation of a cottage on site to accommodate mourners.

The new application has been granted for the burials only, although the Wildlife Trust has until December 23 to appeal against the June ruling, in order to include the cottage, bequeathed to it by a local resident.

The plans have however met with opposition from Scotton Parish Council, as well as residents. Chairman Cliff Dawson, an adjacent landowner to the proposed burial site, declined to comment.

About 50 people have written letters opposing plans for the site, voicing their concern that the burials may lead to contamination of the water supply and a possible increase in traffic in the area.

Kathleen Lee, of Ashwell Court, lives within a stone's throw of the site and said: "I can see it from my window. I don't want to have to look at funerals and the holes being dug."

The AB Welfare and Wildlife Trust, a national organisation which has pioneered green burials, has already carried out 13 burials at the New Road site.

Planning permission was not required for the first set of burials, but the Trust is now looking to expand its operation. It is set to appeal against the original ruling over the cottage, as it feels this building could play a vital part in the service it provides.

"Green burials are not all cardboard boxes and trees for headstones," said Trust spokesman John Bradfield.

"We use biodegradable coffins usually, although all coffins are anyway. We tend to use cardboard, although we don't have to use one at all. We remove the lids, though covering the body with flowers if the family require us to."

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