An unholy row has erupted between a church and its neighbours over plans for 32 new graves.

Clergy at Christ Church in Warwick want to build the tombs on a flat piece of land at the bottom of their own hillside cemetery.

Residents have complained their views will be destroyed by eerie tombstones if the plans are approved.

The Middle Road neighbours celebrated when the Development Applications Board rejected the church's proposals.

But now a Public Inquiry has been ordered so the graveyard arguments can be played out in front of an independent planning inspector.

Peter Cumming opened the inquiry yesterday, hearing from the residents, the Planning Department, the church and its architect Harold Conyers.

The proceedings closed following a site visit to the church, a Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

Mr. Cumming, one of three new independent inspectors, will deliver a final decision within a month.

Church neighbour Belterre Hendrickson told Mr. Cumming: "We are surrounded by the graves and we do feel that if they could be placed somewhere else, that would be a better situation.

"People want to have a view out of their windows that doesn't include tombs.

I don't want people to think that we are being petty here.'' Other residents told the inquiry in the Senate Chamber that regular funerals were causing access problems and parking disturbances.

But resident Michelle Khaldun said: "The main issue is that we don't want those new graves built on the southern side of the boundary.

"We are not objecting to the graves being put down, just the location which is being proposed.

"There are other areas within the existing graveyard where graves can be built.'' She said the graves could be built at the top of the hillside cemetery, where there is also flat land.

But Rev. Harry Shepherd, the church minister, said the land was a children's play area.

He added: "There are alternatives but they would undermine church activity in a greater way.'' Mr. Conyers, representing the church, showed the hearing a set of plans to describe exactly where the graves would be built.

He said: "Firstly, it seems as though everybody supports graves, it's just a matter of location.

"However, it would be our intention to heavily landscape the graves.'' Mr. Conyers said the greenery would also help respect the privacy of bereaved families.

Turning to the residents, he added: "There's probably no benefit to those mourners looking at you, either.

"Plus, it could be worse -- it's still church land. A church hall could be built there, for instance.'' The neighbours unanimously rejected proposals for landscaping, saying trees or hedges would cut out light as well as the graves.

Mr. Cumming said: "I will reach a final decision within about a month.'' GRAVE CONCERNS -- Independent planning inspector Peter Cumming (left) leads a delegation of churchmen and local residents to the cemetery at Christ Church in Warwick yesterday. Mr. Cumming is leading a public inquiry after neighbours objected to proposals to build 32 new graves.

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