Fears over lack of spaces for Muslim burials

KIRKLEES Council says there are "very limited" spaces for Muslim burials at Dewsbury Cemetery, as "urgent concerns" are raised about cemetery provision in the north of the borough.

- By ABIGAIL MARLOW

Fears for Dewsbury Cemetery's "rapidly depleting" burial space have been raised several times over the years.

The matter was brought to the attention of Kirklees' full council by members of the Dewsbury Cemetery Multi-Faith Action Group in November 2022. They said the land would be used up within 12 to 18 months. But the council said there were enough spaces to serve the community for six to seven years.

The following June, a council report said that the construction of a new burial ground was required as Dewsbury Cemetery would be "full to new Muslim burials by the end of 2023".

But despite this stark warning, the local authority maintained that spaces would not run out for people of all faiths and no faiths.

It again reiterated that there was enough room to last at least six years, though this also took into account the 600 spaces that are privately owned by the North Kirklees Muslim Burial Committee.