A RARE plot of land has come up for sale in Huddersfield.
Nearly 20 years ago a Holmfirth couple bought a burial plot in Lockwood cemetery as an ‘investment’. Now, Diana and Michael Shepherd’s land is worth more than seven times what they paid for it.
Diana said: “My nephew worked for the council at grave yards and he suggested, as cemeteries were getting full, that we should buy a plot of land. So we did.
“The idea behind it was that a lot of communities prefer for their family members to be buried together.
“Lockwood cemetery is now full, so it is not possible for them to bury anyone else there, unless someone like me has got a plot.
“Anybody who would like their family members to be buried together can contact us about the site.
“In 1994, we bought it for £134 and it is now worth £1,000.
“It is no different from buying any other plot of land – it is just a little more unusual. Although we are not in a position at the moment to buy any further plots, I suppose it has been a good investment – after all grave yards are getting full.”
The shortage of sites was made clear earlier this week as a proposal for a new cemetery at Hey Lane near Castle Hill was revealed. It will be decided by the Huddersfield Area Planning Sub-committee on January 26.
A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “Huddersfield is currently served by three cemeteries which are nearing capacity and no new graves are expected to be available there within two years.”
The couple, who now live in Pontefract, said that if anyone is interested in the plot they should get in touch on either 01977 671 269 or 07881 800425.
