Wath cemetery expansion approved by council

The plans – to extend the Wath site into greenspace to the south-east of the existing site – were approved by councillors on Thursday, October 12.

Residents had raised concerns about new trees creating extra maintenance; potential anti-social behaviour issues on new benches; increased parking issues and traffic; and gutters becoming clogged with leaves.

A Dignity Funerals representative told the meeting that, in light of the concerns, trees and benches had been removed from the plan, and said that a “significant amount of work” had been undertaken to address any issues.

He added that there was a “pressing need” to extend the cemetery, as documents show that it is reaching capacity.

A report from 2021 stated that Wath Cemetery had approximately three years of operational use remaining, but land adjacent to the site could provide 20 to 25 years of further use.

A report to the committee added that the extension was “not expected to generate a need for increased parking”.

Dignity will operate and maintain the site, which will remain open during the additional landscaping.

The report added: “The siting of burial plots and associated headstones, etc, will have a minimal visual impact upon the area, particularly bearing in mind that the site is seen in the context of the existing Cemetery adjacent to the site.”

The plans were approved with eight votes in favour and one abstention.