NEW plans to build a crematorium to serve Newport and Monmouthshire residents will be unveiled this week.

The proposal- which will be heard at a consultation on Tuesday- aims to relieve congestion at Gwent crematorium in Cwmbran.

Gwent is the busiest crematorium in the UK, holding over 2,800 cremations a year in a single chapel.

For many years, local people have complained that there is no local crematorium to serve the area.

Families in Magor, Langstone, Llanmartin and Caldicot have been at a particular disadvantage because of the long journeys they face to get to a crematorium.

Plans made by Westerleigh Group, one of the biggest crematorium developers and operators nationwide, have yet to be put to the council but it is hoped the consultation will give the proposal the backing it needs.

After a long search, developers believe they have now found the ideal site on Magor Road, Langstone.

Developers say the new crematorium is estimated to cost more than £4m to build and is expected to serve around 100,000 people from Newport with an additional 50,000 people from Monmouthshire.

The crematorium would be built in a natural bowl, well screened from the main road and so able to offer the privacy that families like at a funeral.

Because it is in a rural setting, the facility has been designed to be in keeping with the character of the area and to blend into the countryside.

A public presentation and exhibition of the plans will take place on Tuesday, May 12 at the Old Barn Inn, Llanmartin between 2pm and 7pm and the public will be asked for their views on the new scheme.

Richard Evans, Managing Director of Westerleigh Group said: “People living here do not have a crematorium of their own.

“They are forced to travel to use Gwent crematorium in Cwmbran, the busiest crematorium in the UK.

The new crematorium serving families from Newport and surrounding areas would operate just four services a day.

It has already attracted the support of local funeral directors.

Funeral Director Philip Blatchley said: “This would reduce the waiting time and travel time from Chepstow, Bulwark, Caldicot and the surrounding rural areas where travel time in some cases can be up to one hour.”