Cemetery works identify new spaces for future burials

Trials at a number of cemeteries in Pendle have shown that there is room for more burials in the future, and further testing is underway at one site.

Pendle Council has discussed the need to create new burial grounds in the borough, along with space for the burial of ashes and memorial walls, at a number of meetings. An update was given at the latest meeting of the board.

The council has already set aside £79,000 for Ghyll Cemetery works. Executive councillors welcomed recent trials at Ghyll and approved the allocation of a further £30,000 for further surveys, detailed designs and planning management costs for the site.

Based on experience with the development of a new cemetery in Nelson, where land on Halifax Road has been earmarked for future needs, councillors were told the Environment Agency is likely to request detailed information on other new cemetery projects.

Officer David Walker gave an update. In recent years he said that the increased number of burials due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the pre-sale of plots had impacted on the availability of space in the borough. Officers have been looking at Earby, Salterforth, Ghyll Meadows, Barrowford and Colne cemeteries to ensure there is enough space for future needs.

A new report found that Colne Cemetery currently has 120 plots available offering five years of use. Barrowford has 62 plots offering five years of use, Ghyll has 50 plots offering eight years of space, Earby has 112 plots offering 17 years of space. Salterforth has over 40 years of space available, based on current recorded burial figures.

The number of predicted burial sites has increased in some locations due to recent work to restore or develop portions of burial sites previously considered unusable due to rock or leaf cover.

Initial reports for Colne and Earby were positive, confirming that both sites could be suitable for further investigation, officers said. Further work will be arranged once investigations into possible expansion sites for Ghyll and Barrowford are complete.

On Ghyll, Mr Walker said initial investigations had not been positive as tests had found shallow groundwater or bedrock. However, there is an area of ​​just under half a hectare that could create space for around 300 plots. Some parts could be used for planting memorial trees and memorial walls for the burial of ashes.

If councillors decide to develop the Ghyll site, officials expect it could generate revenue of around £545,000 over the extended life of the cemetery, based on the predicted number of burials and interments.

Further investigations are still to be carried out at Colne Cemetery. However, no further work has been ordered on land adjacent to the existing Colne or Earby cemeteries, as it is predicted that Ghyll and Barrowford Memorial cemeteries will be the two sites to be expanded first.

Creating new revenue is important, the update report added. The purchase of land on Halifax Road in Nelson and future development has effectively tied up a large portion of the financial ‘capital’ resources available to the council. This limits what the council can do at other cemeteries unless additional resources are generated to fund developments.

Independent councillor Zafar Ali said: “The positive outcome of the work has set Pendle up very well for the future. In terms of Ghyll, I hope councillors will support the recommendations. If we are successful, we will be looking at a 50-year lifespan for the identified burial sites and will bring in additional income beyond the costs.”

Councillors welcomed the update and approved £30,000 to complete the study at Ghyll.