WEST Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has welcomed assurances from the Government they will not intervene in plans for a cemetery in Burscough.

Rosie wrote to Baroness Andrews at the Department of Communities and Local Government following concerns that the plans could be delayed due to the site at Pippin Street being in the Green Belt.

MP Rosie has now received confirmation the Government believes that the final decision should rest with West Lancashire District Council as the local planning authority.

Rosie said: “It is great news that the plans for the new cemetery will not be ‘called in’ by the Secretary of State.

“I want to see West Lancashire District Council move ahead with these plans to enable developers to get on onsite so work can begin.

“There are no more reasons for the district council to be stalling over this issue. They have left it unresolved for far too long, forcing local families to look outside the district to bury their loved ones.”

MP Rosie has been campaigning for burial provision in the constituency for the past two years. West Lancashire District Council have resisted these calls, stating they have no statutory obligation to provide a cemetery/crematorium.

During this time, some local residents have had to pay up to £1,000 extra to bury loved ones in Liverpool.