Cemeteries facing closure

COUNCILLORS DEBATING EAST CLEVELAND OPTIONS

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

THREE cemeteries in East Cleveland have only two to three years' capacity left, leaving leaders facing "unpalatable" choices including potential closures in the future.

Councillors have been told of options to extend, investing in or close cemeteries.

They heard how the cemetery in Loftus had two years' capacity, Guisborough had two to two-and-a-half years and Brotton had two to three years.

Redcar cemetery has nine to 10 years' capacity, Eston 10 to 15 years, Saltburn 50 years, and Skelton and Boosbeck 60 to 70 years each, according to Redcar and Cleveland Council's figures.

The council looks after eight cemeteries, with an average of 253 burials and 133 cremated remains per year.

Jay Hosie, the council's service lead for safer communities and streetscene, said: “We've got a significant number with a very short amount of time left on there and real capacity issues.