A petition signed by more than 2,000 people has been delivered to the Thames-Coromandel District Council today.

About 300 people took to the streets as part of a peaceful protest against Twentymans Funeral Services' proposed plan to install a cremator at its premises in the centre of Grahamstown.

About 300 people have taken part in march to protest Twentymans Funeral Service's proposed plans to install a cremator in the centre of Grahamstown. Photo: TCDC/Supplied.

This morning saw marchers start their protest from outside Twentymans on Pollen St, before it moved along Main St and finished at council's offices on Mackay St.

The petition, which had been placed inside a miniature coffin, was then received on behalf of council by chief executive David Hammond.

There is much public resentment to the idea of a cremator being located in the centre of Grahamstown, especially among food and beverage proprietors worried it would kill off business.

Many also believe it was undignified and are concerned that odour, smoke and particulates would be pumped into the area surrounding the funeral home.

Council is well aware of the high level of interest and concern regarding the proposed placement of a cremator in Grahamstown.

'Until a formal and detailed application is lodged with council we are unable to predetermine whether resource consent will be required,” it says. 'Or, if it is required whether council would publicly notify or not.

'In general, if an activity is not specified in the District Plan it is viewed as being non-complying.”

Council says it has requested Twentymans to submit details of its cremator proposal so that the planning team can provide clearer advice on this.

Additional to council processes, a cremator would be subject to applications to Waikato Regional Council and the Ministry of Health.

'The work currently being undertaken on the subject building in Grahamstown is only repair and maintenance work which doesn't require a Building Consent.

'Any further building work that changes the use of the building will trigger a Building Consent as well as an assessment of whether Resource Consent is needed.”

If a change of activity or a change of building use occurs without council knowledge it would then be able to serve an abatement notice.

Council says in the past it has considered both Totara and Omahu cemeteries as potential sites to locate a cremator, but no formal or detailed planning has taken place.

'We would need to consider the space requirements and whether there is sufficient land area to accommodate this without compromising future burial space.

'Currently there's no plans to establish a crematorium on council cemetery land but if approached we would be open to receiving proposals.

Council adds: 'If seriously considered this would likely be managed through a public open tender ‘Registration of Interest' process.”

A proposal for locating a crematorium on cemetery land would also be required to go through the same planning and consent processes as would a site proposal within the township.

This would include considering issues such as zoning, effects, building consent requirements, Waikato Regional Council and Ministry of Health approvals.

'Twentymans Funeral Services has previously approached Council inquiring about the possibility of locating a cremator at Totara Cemetery but Twentymans have not pursued this any further than those initial inquiries.”