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Plans drawn up to extend cemetery

Frank Wood
9/ 4/2008

A DESIGN for the proposed extension to Heywood Cemetery is expected to go to the township planning committee in June.

The borough’s countryside and parks boss, Chris Flintoff, says he is confident that once the plans have been approved, the £300,000 plus project will be completed before space for new graves runs out at the existing cemetery.

A design for a two-acre plot of council-owned land next to the present cemetery, off Rochdale Road East, has been drawn up by The Impact Partnership, a consortium comprising the council and private sector regeneration specialists.

The actual work, which will include extensive landscaping so that there are no uneven sections or slippery slopes, will be put out to tender from private contractors.

The race against time began last year when it was revealed that space for new graves in the Church of England section was expected to run out by the end of 2009 and space in the Roman Catholic sector by around 2012.

The council has stressed, however, that many people with family graves will be able to continue using the existing site for many years after that.

The lack of space applies to graves which have to be newly dug.

Council officials studied a number of sites around Heywood but found most were unsuitable for one reason or another. The main stumbling blocks were poor drainage and unstable land. Finally, they went back to square one and decided that, with the right kind of landscaping, an area on the left of the drive into the cemetery could be used.

Environment chief Councillor Wera Hobhouse said: "We have actually set aside the money in our budget because we realise how important it is that this work is done as soon possible for the people of Heywood. It was a very high priority for us to find somewhere within Heywood and I’m very glad it is within the existing cemetery site."

Mr Flintoff said: "If everything goes to plan, our target is to start the work on site by around October. "

It is expected the extra area will provide enough room for new burials for around 20 years at the present rate, but more than 30 years if the number of cremations continues to rise.