Town down to 'final space' for Muslim burials

A council has denied that space for Muslim burials will run out despite reports one cemetery had only a single remaining site for Islamic internments.

Kirklees Council said although Dewsbury Cemetery had a shortage of plots, funds had been ringfenced to create more and that, overall, capacity was available in the wider North Kirklees area.

As of this weekend, Dewsbury cemetery was down to its final plot for Muslim burials, according to a representative of a local funeral service

Ammar Anwar, Community Alliance councillor for Dewsbury West, said it was "nothing short of a scandal" after Council Leader Carole Pattison revealed last week there were only "one or two" remaining plots at Dewsbury.

The issue was raised at a meeting by councillor Cathy Scott, who asked leader Pattison where families were expected to bury their loved ones.

Pattinson responded that the authority was actively looking for more spaces.

"There is sufficient burial space in North Kirklees," Pattison said, according to The Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"It is true that Muslim space in Dewsbury Cemetery is running out, but there is £500,000 ringfenced to look for and try to establish more Muslim burial spaces.

"Some of that has been used in extending some plots and creating extra places, but the vast majority of it remains."

Pattison told the council that despite rumours it was "not true" that officers were not working hard to provide or look for space in Dewsbury and the wider North Kirklees area.

"There are ongoing negotiations with the private owners of the burial ground in Dewsbury which should result in some spaces being available very soon," she continued.

"Work is ongoing to ensure there will be more spaces in the longer term.

"It is not true to say there are no spaces for burials in North Kirklees for Muslims or for anybody else of any or no faith."

In early December Pattinson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the council was fast-tracking the hunt for more space.

Back in 2023 a council report stated that a new burial ground would be required for the town, but that there was expected to be enough capacity for the next six years.

The calculations included 600 plots privately owned by the North Kirklees Muslim Burial Committee.

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