Grave concerns as new burial space yet to be found

OPPOSITION COUNCILLORS HAD EXPECTED A REPORT ON POTENTIAL SITES BUT ONE IS YET TO BE PRODUCED

- By ABIGAIL MARLOW

OPPOSITION councillors have voiced serious concern as new burial space is yet to be found for Dewsbury and Batley.

Back in February, in response to a motion from the Community Alliance Group, Kirklees Council's Labour administration confirmed it would be upholding the decision to find suitable multi-faith burial land to serve the two towns and ensure that £500,000 in already-allocated council funding is only spent in these locations.

Burial space is dwindling, not only in Kirklees but nationally, with the Law Commission previously proposing that graves be reused across the country to address the shortage. Kirklees Council made it clear that it has no intention to reuse graves and is prioritising the identification of new burial land.