Expansion for burial ground
A cemetery in Walsall could be extended to cope with funerals for decades to come, at a time when less than half of the borough's graveyards offer burial plots. A cemetery in Walsall could be extended to cope with funerals for decades to come, at a time when less than half of the borough's graveyards offer burial plots. Streetly Cemetery and Crematorium will take in a neighbouring 89 acre field if planners give the bid their support at a meeting next week. It would mean the graveyard, in Little Hardwick Road, which opened 69 years ago, could accommodate burials for at least 15 years. Streetly, North Walsall and Willenhall Lawn are the only three cemeteries in the whole of Walsall that still have space available for full coffin burials. Wood Street, Ryecroft, Bentley, Bloxwich and James Bridge cemeteries do not offer full coffin burials and the former Queen Street plot is fully closed. The development control committee has been recommended to approve the application at its meeting in Walsall Council House on Wednesday. A report states: "The proposal is to extend the cemetery into the field adjoining the eastern boundary of the existing site." Read the full story in the Express & Star.
A cemetery in Walsall could be extended to cope with funerals for decades to come, at a time when less than half of the borough's graveyards offer burial plots.
Streetly Cemetery and Crematorium will take in a neighbouring 89 acre field if planners give the bid their support at a meeting next week.
It would mean the graveyard, in Little Hardwick Road, which opened 69 years ago, could accommodate burials for at least 15 years. Streetly, North Walsall and Willenhall Lawn are the only three cemeteries in the whole of Walsall that still have space available for full coffin burials.
Wood Street, Ryecroft, Bentley, Bloxwich and James Bridge cemeteries do not offer full coffin burials and the former Queen Street plot is fully closed.
The development control committee has been recommended to approve the application at its meeting in Walsall Council House on Wednesday. A report states: "The proposal is to extend the cemetery into the field adjoining the eastern boundary of the existing site."
Development is proposed in two phases. Phase one is to extend the cemetery by 30 acres, which would provide capacity for approximately 10-15 years, and phase two would start at the end of this period and take in the remaining 59 acres.
Visitors would reach the extension using the internal cemetery road, which would be lengthened and a traffic island created within the site. The centre of it would be planted as a garden.
The new burial areas would be grassed and landscaped and pathways laid.
Hawthorn hedges that line the cemetery would be trimmed back and an avenue of trees planted along the extended access road.
One letter has been received by the council from a neighbour who raises concerns on the grounds there would be more cars parked in the area.
Streetly was opened in 1938 by the then Aldridge Urban District Council.
New graves for coffin burials are available on the lawn headstone section, and there is grave space for adult cremations, which hold up to four caskets.
There is a separate area for the interment of babies and children, which can mean either burial or cremation.
