Back to cemetery drawing board
Councillors vote to reconsider decision following backlash
CHARNWOOD Borough Council has agreed to review the proposal to build an extension to Loughborough cemetery at the top of Allendale Road.
Cabinet members met last Thursday, (November 16) and councillors agreed that more work should be done around options for new burial sites in the town.
The council is looking at the town’s future cemetery provision sayings the current site in Leicester Road only has space for around another five years.
A feasibility study carried out by the council had identified five possible locations with a preferred site at Allen- dale Road, Loughborough which was approved in October.
However, the move sparked anger from residents and that decision was called in by five councillors.
CHARNWOOD BOROUGH Council has agreed to review the proposal to build an extension to Loughborough cemetery at the top of Allendale Road.
Cabinet members met last Thursday, (November 16) and councillors agreed that more work should be done around options for new burial sites in the town.
The council is looking at the town’s future cemetery provision saying the current site in Leicester Road only has space for around another five years.
A feasibility study carried out by the council had identified five possible locations with a preferred site at Allendale Road, Loughborough which was approved in October.
However, the move sparked anger from residents and that decision was called in by five councillors.
Now councillors have agreed that offic- ers should undertake further work on the five areas in order to identify a potential site and hold a public consultation on the viable options.
A petition against the proposal with 342 signatures was also submitted to the council by Coun David Hayes, and handed in at the last full council meeting.
Coun Jenny Bokor, lead member for open spaces said: “We will run out of space at Loughborough Cemetery in around five years’ time so we need to find a solution soon as whatever we decide will take time to implement.
“We have been asked to look again at this decision and that is what we will do, but to be clear, all viable options remain on the table, not just the site off Allendale Road. We have always planned to consult the public, but we accept that some earlier notice should have been given.
“We will keep residents informed and there will be a full public consultation on any future proposals.”
Coun David Hayes, borough councillor for Loughborough Shelthorpe told the Echo: “I think this is a victory for common sense, it’s so important to get a decision like this that is once in 100 years right, and to make sure it is in the right place and right location, with the right agreement with local people.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the proposed sites laid out in the local plan.”
Earlier this year the council commissioned a feasibility study to look at potential sites within the council’s ownership for a new cemetery.
The study identified five sites and scored them according to their suitability against the council’s criteria. They were ranked in order of preference: Allendale Road, Loughborough; Loughborough Road, Hathern; Shelthorpe Golf Course, Loughborough; Nanpantan Road, Loughborough; Loughborough cemetery extension.
To view more about the proposals visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/loughborough_ cemetery_expansion