CEMETERIES in Huddersfield have nearly run out of space for the town’s dead.
There are little more than 200 burial plots left in and around the town, the Examiner has learned.
At current burial rates they could be filled within months.
A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “Burial spaces in the south of Kirklees – Huddersfield and the surrounding area – are fast running out.”
There are about 4,000 deaths a year in Kirklees.
About 200 of those people are buried or cremated outside the district, but about a fifth are buried in Kirklees Council cemeteries.
Records show that in 2004-05, some 724 people were buried in council cemeteries.
Lockwood and Edgerton cemeteries are already full and Slaithwaite cemetery has only a handful of spaces left.
Almondbury has about 180 spots left and Kirkheaton some 50. Skelmanthorpe cemetery still has a number of places.
As reported in the Examiner this month a planning application has been submitted to Kirklees for an extra 600 spaces at Slaithwaite.
A further application for a new 2,000-space cemetery at Fenay Bridge has also been put forward.
The Fenay Bridge application said: “The availability of burial space is becoming critical, particularly in south Kirklees.
“In north Kirklees the position is better, owing to the availability of burial space at Batley and Liver-sedge.
“Given the critical shortage of new burial space in south Kirklees the provision of a new cemetery is essential.”
Clr Martyn Bolt, the council’s Cabinet member for environmental matters, said there was no need to panic.
He said: “I don’t think that in the foreseeable future people should be worried.
“With the number of burials and cremations taking place in Kirklees at the moment there’s no immediate fear.”
But Keith Clegg, manager of Co-operative Funeralcare, said the shortage of graves was disappointing.
He added: “Although the majority of people choose cremation, for families who opt for burial we are now having to go to graveyards up to four or five miles out of town, which can be obviously quite distressing for those concerned.
“We understand that the council is planning to open a new cemetery in Fenay Bridge, but until that time the extra distance could cause more upset for families at an already difficult time.”
The Fenay Bridge cemetery – on greenfield land bordered by Fenay Lane, Southfield Road and Penistone Road – would have areas for burials by Muslims and other faith groups and spaces for woodland burials.
There may also be a depot for staff who carry out maintenance and grave digging.
The cemetery would have 140 parking spaces.
Existing public footpaths would be maintained.
A public meeting is taking place on December 6 to discuss the proposals.
Almondbury councillor Ann Denham, who has helped to organise it, said: “I am supportive of the development as I feel the plans have been developed with real sympathy for the natural environment.
“However, I am sure that there will be a lot of details which need ironing out and we will continue to consult local people.”
The meeting is at St Michael’s and St Helen’s Church on Fleminghouse Lane, Almondbury, starting at 7.15pm.
