New cemetery site planned for Shrewsbury
Proposals for a new cemetery site at Bowbrook in Shrewsbury are to be considered by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet next week.
The site close to the B4386 Mytton Oak Road near to the Bowbrook allotments – has been selected following a detailed review and evaluation of several Shropshire Council-owned sites.
Shropshire Council says it has been chosen as the most suitable site as it is the right size, is in a quiet area, has good road access and is close to the crematorium and to the chapel at Longden Road as well as meeting a number of environmental conditions.
If the council’s cabinet approves the site at its meeting on Wednesday, a period of public consultation will be carried out, before a planning application is submitted later this year. If approved the site would be developed and ready for burials by 2013/14.
It is estimated that developing the new site would cost £1.1million, which Shropshire Council says is included within its capital budget for 2012/13.
The current burial site at Emstrey is due to be closed to new burials in around three years’ time. Investigations carried out in 2011 concluded that, due to elevated groundwater levels, the site was unsuitable for further development for burial and a phased closure programme was agreed with the Environment Agency. Based on current burial rates of around 100 per year, it is estimated that burials at the site will have to end in around three years.
Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for bereavement services, said:
“It’s hugely important that we start work soon on developing a new site this year, so that we can continue to provide a burial service once we are no longer able to use Emstrey, and we need to ensure a seamless transition from one site to the other.
“Following detailed studies, we believe that the Bowbrook site is the ideal location for the new burial site. I am confident that, once developed, it will provide an attractive, peaceful location at which people can bury their loved ones, and visit to pay their respects.”
People can find out more about the proposals at the Bowbrook, Copthorne and Radbrook Local Joint Committee meeting at Radbrook Primary School on Thursday 19 July 2012; and drop-in sessions at which people can also see artist’s impression of the site will be held in September 2012.
