Sites identified in search for burial spaces

Two sites have been identified as possible locations for a new cemetery in the county.

Shropshire Council said it has two potential sites in the Shrewsbury area as it bids to solve the looming problem of space running out at current sites.

The council’s Communities Overview Committee will receive a report next week saying burial places are running low in Shrewsbury and Minsterley.

But two potential sites have been flagged up by council officers, although their locations have not yet been revealed.

A report to the meeting, by Mark Foxall, bereavement services manager, says: “Capital monies will be required to develop new cemetery provision where capacity is identified as being required, one, in the wider Minsterley area and two, for Shrewsbury.

“The plan for the wider Minsterley area is to develop on council-owned land adjoining Church Pulverbatch cemetery, the capital cost has not yet been fully assessed but it is considered to be a small-scale project.

“The development cost for a new cemetery for Shrewsbury is unknown at present.

“The largest component of future development cost is likely to be for land acquisition if suitable land cannot be found from within the council’s owned estate.

“The size of cemetery developed will be a factor in the total development costs.”

Mr Foxall added that 37 new graves were purchased in total across all Shropshire Council cemetery land during 2018 calendar year and a further 137 ‘reopens’ for second or third interments took place.

The report says: “Two sites in the Shrewsbury region have been identified by estates department for further investigation.

“These sites are to be reviewed further in due course.

“Since September 2018 reasonable progress has been made to ensure the bereavement service can bring on line necessary burial capacity through the works at Longden Road, Church Pulverbatch and Minsterley cemeteries with the additional benefit that this brings increased revenue for the council.

“Once this capacity is available it would be opportune to review policies regarding how graves are sold, for instance at the point of need or in advance and to formalise the offer for other faith groups.

“Spring 2019 would be an opportune time to prompt again councils that did not respond to the council’s initial survey.”

The meeting will be held on Monday at Shirehall at 10am.