Council’s grave concerns at lack of cemetery space, Teesdale Mercury

BARNARD Castle will soon be left without anywhere to bury its dead, the town council has warned.

It is estimated that the town’s cemetery only has space for about 150 burials and councillors say that an alternative site has yet to be found.

Because of the long time it takes to create a new cemetery, it is feared that the current site could be full before a new one is ready.

This would make it impossible for residents to be buried in the town, it is claimed.

The town council is calling for Durham County Council to take action.

Cllr John Watson said: “Anyone who visits the cemetery can clearly see how quickly the space is being used up.

“The time it takes to acquire and prepare a new cemetery will take years not months, and given the county council’s financial situation, there’s an issue of whether they have the funds to act.

“We are working against the clock – we could have the situation where people find burials can’t take place in the town because a new cemetery is not ready.”

Currently, people can be buried in the former Free Church cemetery or a smaller area administered by the Roman Catholic Church. Both sites can be accessed from Victoria Road via Cemetery Lane.

Eight years ago, council officers warned that there was a shortage of burial plots in Barnard Castle. The town cemetery was extended after the county council acquired a piece of former allotment land.

Before the authority was abolished, Teesdale District Council carried out a study and reported that there were enough plots in the town.

But Cllr Watson said those figures were already a year out of date when they were published. He said the data didn’t take into account how long it would take for a new cemetery to be created.

The town mayor, Cllr Tony Cooke, wanted more information on how much space is left. 

“It’s all very airy fairy at the moment. We need to know the full situation,” he said.

Members agreed to write to the county council.