Two new cemetery sites explored by Shropshire Council

It comes after the Environment Agency said it would not support the council’s bid to open the Mytton Oak Remembrance Park on the outskirts of the town.

Concerns had been raised that the water table at the site was too high, making the ground too wet.

Work began on the Mytton Oak Remembrance Park at Bowbrook five years ago with a budget of £1.1 million.

It was due to open the following year to address a lack of burial space at Longden Road and Emstrey.

Following this news, Shropshire Council decided that while the Mytton Oak site could be used for the scattering of ashes, it would have to look at other sites where all bereavement services could be carried out in one place.

Mike Foxall, the council’s bereavement services manager, said that two sites in the Shrewsbury region have now been identified for further investigation. These site are to be reviewed further in due course’.

Last year there had been fears that burial space in the county was running out.

But in a report to go before members of Shropshire Council’s Communities Overview Committee, which meets next Monday, Mr Foxall said that space at Longden Road cemetery had been extended.

He said: “Works to create burial space in the areas between the entrance gates and the roundabout area will commence this year.

"This will create about 200 new graves. It is appropriate to allow the ground to settle after works are carried out before any interments.”

In adjoining parishes, capacity for burials is also good. At Church Pulverbatch current capacity is estimated to last for 25 years although an extension is possible to create 100 years-plus capacity.

In Minsterley, where it was thought that capacity would be reached within one to three years, the removal of five hawthorn trees will create about 25 burial spaces.

Mr Foxall added: “An area sufficient to meet the need for the Church Pulverbatch and Minsterley communities for around 30 years is set to be developed in the coming months and an area will be left un-consecrated for non-Christian burial.

“Discussion with owners of land adjoining the existing cemetery [at Minsterley] has not yielded any interest in selling land to extend this cemetery.

"Some small trees are due to be removed from the cemetery on the western side and this will create around 25 new burial spaces.

"The proposal to develop Church Pulverbatch cemetery is to also meet the need for the Minsterley community.”

In conclusion Mr Foxall said: “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.”