Burial space in Pontefract may run out by Christmas, report says

Families wishing to bury their loved ones in Pontefract will be forced to use existing graves if a "critical" need for new plots is not met swiftly, the report, prepared by Wakefield Council officers, adds.

The council's senior members will be asked next week to approve cash for a new cemetery space elsewhere in the town. A number of potential sites, all on public land have been identified.

There is a similar problem at Hemsworth Cemetery, albeit not as pressing, with space there likely to run out within the next two years.

As a result the council is looking to develop greenbelt land it owns next to the cemetery to create more than 1,000 new plots for graves.

Maureen Cummings, the council's Cabinet member for communities, said the authority needed to "act now" to resolve the issue.

She said: "We understand how important it is for many families to provide a final resting place for their loved ones in their local area.

"This investment will mean that we can provide these important burial spaces for many years to come. The Hemsworth expansion alone will create an additional 1,175 single plots.”

"And whether families choose a cremation or a burial at this difficult time, ensuring that space is available in local cemeteries is vital and will mean that bereaved families do not need to travel as far to visit and can feel comforted that their loved ones are closer to home."

Although grieving relatives in both towns can choose to bury their family members elsewhere, the report acknowledged there's a "strong desire in close-knit communities, such as Hemsworth and Pontefract, for bereaved families to be able to dispose of their loved ones close to their homes".

Both schemes are subject to planning permission.

Local Democracy Reporting Service