The County Times report (May 28) plans for a Caersws-based crematorium, projected to handle 1,200 funerals annually.

This based on Powys’ population and a U.K-wide statistic that 77 per cent of those who die are cremated.

Projections are wildly optimistic: Scotland s percentage is 70 per cent and Wales as a rural country would be similar.

Breconshire residents (41,000) are unlikely to use the facility, and Llan’dod and Builth are 35 miles away, so discount 10,000 ,a third of Radnorshire’s population, to leave 83000 possible customers from northern Powys.

These revisions reduce 1,200 by almost half to 675, some thirteen customers per week.

Any gains from the rates, will be cancelled by the cost of necessary road improvements.

The five staff involved are hardly likely to be overwhelmed, and the football-stadium like facility is more likely to be a white elephant than “the exciting proposition ”stated by one advocate.

The applicant is a company controlled by a member of the county planning committee.

No public money should be wasted on this unnecessary scheme – certainly not a project to die for!

Bruce Lawson

Montgomery