Issa brothers' plan to build cemetery slammed as locals say it's 'ruining lives'

A councillor has raised concerns over plans to build a cemetery on green belt land by The Issa Foundation.

Conservative Councillor for St Oswalds, Zak Khan will be hosting a meeting at Oswaldtwistle Social Club to allow people to share their objections to the proposals to build new cemetery between Oswaldtwistle and Blackburn.

Ideas about what the community can do to campaign against it will also be discussed. The meeting will take place on Monday, March 18, 7pm to 8.30pm, reports Lancs Live.

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Coun Khan set up the meeting in response to The Issa Foundation's event last Thursday which unveiled the redesigned plans. He objects to the proposals because he fears Blackburn Road will become more congested, he wants to preserve the green belt land, and he feels the plans are unnecessary since there is enough cemetery space in the area.

The Issa Foundation's event focused on plans for The Memorial Garden and Cemetery located off Blackburn Road. Visitors had the opportunity to view diagrams of the new plans and to talk with representatives from The Issa Foundation - of which brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa are trustees.

Frustrated residents and councillors expressed their concerns and objections over the plans at the event including Coun Khan.

The plans were revisited to address a number of concerns raised following the previous planning application submitted to Hyndburn Council in November 2021. Initially, the Foundation asked for 35,000 burial plots in the area, spanning 84 acres.

The proposed development has now been reduced to 13,500 burial plots covering 18.5 hectares. Coun Khan says the amendments to the plans do not make a difference