Coverack has reached its last chance to give residents a Christian burial in their own village.

This was the stark warning given when St Keverne Parish Council was asked to consider an application to build on a plot of land at Chymbloth Way in Coverack, next to the church.

The parish council had previously been in talks about purchasing the land for a graveyard, but discussions had fallen through after a purchase price of £230,000 was given.

In her letter with the planning application, applicant Natalie Rawson, who is now asking for outline permission to build a two-bedroom house on the plot, stated that talks had “resulted in the realisation that they do not have the resources to either purchase the land nor to convert it into a graveyard.”

Councillor Bill Frisken said the land in question had always been seen as “the natural progression of the churchyard,” which was now nearly full – at last count only ten burial plots remained available.

“We’re getting to the point where no one can be buried in Coverack. It’s time to realise that if this land is allowed for building then the villagers will not be given a Christian burial in their own village.

“I believe this will deny them their religious rights. All the other religions in this country now would be jumping up and down if similar rights were denied them, but not the Christian rights I’m sorry to say,” he added.

However, members were told that concerns over access was the only firm planning ground that they could object on, with councillors recommending refusal for this reason. Cornwall Council will now make the final decision.

Earlier in their meeting, councillors were told by one resident: “There’s not one person who wants this to take place. Any building on this site would be detrimental to the area and have impact in particular on the church and churchyard.”

He added that in just one hour last summer he counted 45 cars pass along Mill Road, the main road through the village, adjoining Chymbloth Way. This contradicts a statement made by Ms Rawson, who claimed that Mill Road had “little use even in summer” and that only ten cars were counted during one hour on a morning last summer.

“This is purely a financial venture, to increase the value of the plot. She will just sell it and leave Coverack with a blot on the landscape,” said the resident.

A woman who said she had lived in Coverack for more than 70 years described the stretch of road as “dangerous,” adding: “To access from that land is just ridiculous with the traffic you get through the summer. It’s just unbelievable.”

Another man agreed, saying the junction was designed for a horse and cart and it now served 20 houses.

In a letter accompanying the application, Ms Rawson claims: “At the moment the site is an eyesore and detracts from the appearance of the village.”

But another woman, who lives opposite the plot of land, told the council: “Who made it an eyesore? It certainly wasn’t when I moved in. Her comments are disingenuous and cynical.”

Councillor Roger Combe raised the point that many years ago Kerrier District Council had bought a 10ft wide strip of land at the plot, in order for the road to be widened in case of erosion on the seaward side, which he presumed had passed to Cornwall Council when district councils were dissolved.

Mr Combe said: “I would be incredibly disappointed if that piece of land was given back to whoever owns the rest, that being ratepayers’ money.”

Cornwall councillor Walter Sanger confirmed that the strip had been bought from the church around 50 years’ ago, for about £20. However, because someone had been gardening the land for more than 12 years without any complaints it had been legally passed to them under a ruling called “adverse possession.”

Should planning permission be given for a new house or would you rather see a graveyard extension? Have your say online at thepacket.co.uk and on the Packet Newspapers Facebook page.