Agenda item

            The Board had previously set up a Cemeteries Working Group to consider options for creating a new cemetery for Widnes as the current one at Birchfield Road had approximately six years of capacity left within it. The Group was to look at the most suitable location, most suitable design and make recommendations to the Board. In addition, the Group were also asked to consider current cemetery rules, making recommendations for how they might be amended and applied in the new cemetery. The Group also considered issues surrounding memorials in the existing cemeteries and how they may be managed in the future.

            The Working Group met on three occasions and Members were advised that an opportunity had arisen, through the closure of Fairfield High School in 2010, to use part of that site, the playing fields area for a new cemetery. The site was owned by the Council so money would not need to be spent on buying land. In addition, the site was located close to the existing cemetery and close to Widnes Town Centre. It was also well served by public transport. A draft design of the proposed new cemetery had been previously circulated to Members. The cost of creating a cemetery on this site would be in the region of £1.5m (although there could be additional costs relating to highway works). The Working Group concluded that the option of creating a new Cemetery at Peel House Lane, on part of the former Fairfield High School site was a sensible option and that it should be recommended to the Executive Board that a cemetery be built there and that funding be identified before capacity ran out at Widnes Cemetery.

            The Working Group also made the following recommendations:

·         a new cemetery should be something to be proud of. It should have an imposing entrance feature;

·         it should have enough car parking space;

·         all graves should be within lawned sections with memorial stones mounted on concrete as in the newer sections of the existing cemetery;

·         the cemetery should be multi-denominational;

·         there should be space for green burials;

·         there should be a designated baby section;

·         the first phase should be done in such a way that the cemetery does not give the appearance of being only half finished;

·         traffic calming would have to be considered on approach roads;

·         consideration be given to landscape screening for local residents;

·         consideration be given to a name and that the name Peel House Cemetery was favoured by Members.

            In addition the Working Group recommended that the Executive Board make it policy that the Council was able to remove dangerous memorials using existing legislation and it would do so subject to notice being given. In addition, that a new set of Cemetery Rules be written for the new Widnes Cemetery and the Runcorn extension and that they contain images to better explain what is expected from deed holders and visitors to the cemeteries.

            Members discussed the proposal by Wade Deacon to become an Academy School and the effect this would have on the proposals for the Fairfield site and also the speed bumps currently on Peel House Lane. Members also queried the proposals for the remainder of the Fairfield site and were advised that the Asset Management Group were currently looking at the remainder of the site.

            RESOLVED: That

            (1)       the recommendations of the Cemeteries Working Group be endorsed; and

            (2)       a report be presented to the Executive Board recommending the adoption of the recommendations of the Cemeteries Working Group.