Teddington's 'last allotments' to become graveyard

A south-west London council's plan to extend a cemetery on land used for allotments has been recommended for approval, despite local objections.

Richmond Council wants to extend Teddington Cemetery on to the Shacklegate Lane allotments to meet demand for burial spaces.

But some residents said the council should throw out the plans, with one questioning why it was "prioritising the dead over the living who need this space".

The council said there was an "urgent need" to reclaim the land for burial space and it would support allotment-holders through the transition.

In a new report the borough's officers said it would still meet its target number of allotments if the extension was approved, while alternative arrangements would be made for those currently using the site.

They said the council had already approved plans in 1993 to extend the cemetery on to the allotments, which showed the "temporary nature of the continued use of the site for allotments".

Recommending the scheme for approval, the report said: "Considering the above, on balance, the loss of the allotment space is considered in these circumstances to be acceptable and the provision of extra burial space beneficial and in alignment with the policies of the development plan."

The extension would provide about 616 new burial spaces at the cemetery, which is due to reach capacity in the next year, and the new plots would be filled in around 30 years.

Almost 60 people objected to the scheme in letters to the local authority's planning committee, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

They said demand for allotments in Richmond was high with long waiting lists, as they argued for better long-term plans to provide burial spaces in the borough without sacrificing the allotments.

Paul Cuff, who has gardened at the site for 40 years, told the BBC he was "devastated" by the plans and that proposals to move the allotments were not viable.

"If I've got to move up to Hampton Hill, it's a good 40-minute walk. I'm 79 in January and I'm not getting any younger.

"So basically, I won't have an allotment."

Candace Taylor, from the Shacklegate Lane Allotment Association, said: "This apparently is going to cover 30 years of burial space, but what are they going to do then?"

Responding to the criticism, Richmond Council's deputy leader, Liberal Democrat Julia Neden-Watts, said the authority understood the strength of feeling locally but that action was needed.

"With Teddington Cemetery expected to reach capacity within the next year, we must act now to ensure continued provision of local burial space," she said.

"The land at Shacklegate Lane has been designated for cemetery use for many years, and the temporary nature of the allotment use here has been clearly communicated and understood."

She said the council would support affected plot holders by offering alternative sites across the borough and providing ongoing assistance during the transition.

Neden-Watts added that the council was focused on keeping the cemetery "green, welcoming and accessible", with plans to improve biodiversity and create new volunteering and community gardening opportunities.

Caroline Wren, a Green Party councillor, said the authority should look into the alternative option of reclaiming old graves.

"In this cemetery, they're not doing it yet. It's absolutely staggering to me that they promised that so many years ago and they have not taken it up," she said.

The council's planning committee is due to decide on the scheme on Wednesday.

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