Road's name may be buried

Now the street may have to be renamed to give the new cemetery a more dignified address. Structural experts are checking the site of more than 20 acres off the Stourport Road to find whether it would be suitable.

Leader of Wyre Forest District Council John Campion today said the Bone Mill site was believed to be ideal. But he admitted that councillors would be considering changing its name if it was chosen.

"The site would be ideal because it is easily accessible from anywhere in the district and surrounded by open countryside," he said.

"But it is likely we would change the name as the present one might not be acceptable to people."

The site is believed to be named Bone Mill because it once had a mill which crushed animal bones for use in the making of bone china at Worcester.

"We have appointed an architect and design team and are waiting for detailed proposals to be put before the council's cabinet in the next few weeks."

A search for a suitable site for a new civic cemetery which could cater for burials for the next 75 to 80 years and which would replace one in Park Street, Kidderminster, has been going on for several years.

Park Street cemetery is set to close in 2009 and officials hope to have the new one opened at that time.

Keith Burgess, operations services manager for Wyre Forest District Council, said: "I had no idea it was called Bone Mill or how it got its name. No actual name has yet been discussed for the cemetery as discussions are still taking place about a suitable site.

"We are in the late stages of purchasing the land and proposals have been drawn up for discussions which would include a chapel initially as part of the layout of the site."