Did you know that Lamb & Hayward Ltd have applied for a resource consent to build a Funeral Home at 286 Halswell Junction Road? We would like to know your thoughts.

The main points:-

* The site is zoned under Living G (Awatea) in operative city plan

* Proposed hours of operation for public and for deliveries 8.30am to 9.00pm

* Funeral services times are 10am, 2pm and 5.30pm, 7 days a week.

* Car park capacity is for 180 cars, via ONE main entrance on Wigram Road less than 30 Metres from the existing roundabout.

* Second entrance for company vehicles and deliveries and then a third access way for the hearse, all slightly further up Wigram road.

* Estimated 344 vehicle movement per day, 112 vehicle movements per hour (peak capacity)

* Council have issued a limited notification to a handful of residents, seeking submissions for or against the application.

We believe that this will affect our area in the following ways:-

Traffic congestion and associated noise: imagine 100+ vehicles coming in and out all at the same time, it will surely create traffic noise and pollution along Halswell Junction Road, Wigram Road and Whincops Road.

Commercial activity in a residential zone: We believe that it is a Commercial activity in a residential zone. Lamb & Hayward are using the term 'spiritual facility' in order to attempt to comply with the regulations. We believe that there is clearly money involved in such services and they are surely thinking of this as a business opportunity. It may lead to possible development of commercial sites if Lamb & Hayward Ltd on sell the land in future.

Property valuation: There is a belief in the property market that property values within our area will be degraded significantly due to a funeral site close to our homes.

Cultural impact: some of us in the surrounding areas have cultural values and religious beliefs which go against having a funeral home so close to our homes. We have invested in our new properties with the knowledge of the adjacent area being residential and not of 'funeral home' nature. There are no cremations there but the wall of remembrance has receptacles which hold ashes.