Parish Council Land Purchase Update

PARISH COUNCIL LAND PURCHASE UPDATE

In January 2021 the Parish Council informed you that it had purchased land for a cemetery. This was because back in 2019 we had been advised in writing, by the church and a local undertaker, that there was no more than 5 years’ capacity at that time. Acting in good faith, the Parish Council spent a considerable amount of time and money searching for land for a new burial ground within the parish as a consequence of the information supplied to us by the Parochial Church Council.

Since the land was purchased, the Parochial Church Council has revised its estimate of remaining burial capacity in the churchyard and now estimates that there is sufficient space for a minimum of 10 years and possibly 20 years. 

At this stage the Parish Council is not minded to proceed with a planning application for a cemetery as it would be very difficult to prove a need.

While the Parish Council does not have a statutory duty to provide a cemetery it is our current intention to retain this land for this potential use, subject to planning consent.  However, circumstances may change and the Parish Council may review its decision.  The Parochial Church Council has been advised that, should there be a substantive change in the remaining burial capacity, planning consent is not guaranteed, the process is not straightforward and a sufficient lead time would be necessary.

The Parish Council is considering alternative uses of its field including letting the land out, in its current state, for animal grazing.  If any resident is interested in renting this land from the Parish Council for this purpose, please contact the Parish Council Clerk.