As the number of new graves available at the Borough Cemetery in Bury St Edmunds declines a new cemetery is opening to allow the service to continue.
The Borough Cemetery in Kings Road has a number of reserved spaces but very little space left for new graves. St Edmundsbury Borough Council started looking for an alternative site some years ago but no land was available. Some sites were ruled out by the Environment Agency, others had access problems but often the land owners were unwilling to sell.
Following negotiations with the Westerleigh Group, which owns the West Suffolk Crematorium, and consultation, including Risby Parish Council, a new cemetery will now be provided by the company in Risby. A former meadow at the crematorium has received planning permission for a change of use and is now available for burials. The cemetery will be privately run by the Westerleigh Group.
The Borough Cemetery will not close once the last new grave has been used, or reserved. A number of years will pass before all the reserved spaces will be used and the cemetery also needs to stay open for at least the next 75 years to honour the conditions of the Exclusive Rights of Burial already issued. Staff will continue to care for the cemetery in Bury St Edmunds and advice and assistance will still be available from the borough's Cemetery Registrar.
Richard Evans, from West Suffolk Crematorium, said:
"The new cemetery is located in the grounds of West Suffolk Crematorium which is well-known in the area for its rural setting and high standards of care. We will ensure that the people of the borough will have a well-maintained and beautifully landscaped cemetery for many years to come. We will also be providing traditional and woodland graves as well as the lawn graves provided at the town cemetery."
Burials will not be possible at the Borough Cemetery once the new graves have all been used unless they have been reserved in advance or they are in space booked in a grave which has already been used. There will still be provision for the interment of cremated remains both in new cremation graves and vaults until they are all used or reserved.
Cemetery Registrar Maggie Moss said:
"While it is disappointing that we have not been able to find a suitable location for a council-run cemetery, I am pleased that our negotiations with the Westerleigh Group means that the burial service can continue within our borough."
Buses are available to the cemetery every hour, Monday to Saturday, from 7.10am to 6.15pm. For more information about the Borough Council cemetery service call the Cemetery Registrar Maggie Moss on 01284 757068. For information about the new cemetery at the West Suffolk Crematorium call Royna Brunskill, Manager, on 01284 755118.
ENDS
Note to news editors:
PLEASE do not say that the Borough Cemetery in Bury St Edmunds is closing. This has been stated in the past and it leads to many distressed calls to our cemetery service by people who think they will not be able to use grave spaces they have reserved in advance or visit graves there. As it says above, the cemetery will remain open for at least 75 years. Many thanks.
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
