New cemetery planned as available graves dwindle
GoogleA new cemetery is being considered in a town where the existing site is running out of burial space.
South Tyneside Council said Jarrow Cemetery has about 20 years of use remaining and it was "already looking at future options" for a replacement.
Councillor Ernest Gibson said early plans included extending the existing grounds in Jarrow or building a new cemetery in the borough.
He said no decisions had yet to be made but would be done so after "detailed feasibility studies and consultation".
"We understand how important it is to plan ahead to ensure there is sufficient burial space for our residents," said Gibson.
"No decisions have been made at this stage, but we are committed to keeping our communities informed as plans progress."
He said studies would take into account land availability, environmental considerations and the need to maintain a "respectful and peaceful setting".
The area's cemetery provision was originally brought into focus at a council meeting in September, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Speaking at that meeting, the council's bereavement services manager Lynne Henderson said there was a "lot of work to be done" to find new provisions.
"All of our cemeteries are Victorian cemeteries and they are starting to reach full capacity now.
"Jarrow has the least time left and we think we have got about 20 years worth of new graves," she said, adding that extending the existing site would not be her "first choice".
