The 'risks and challenges' faced by a lack of burial space at two cemeteries in Flintshire have been discussed by councillors.

Members of the council's Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee discussed the issues currently facing Hawarden No 2 and Buckley Cemeteries.

As part of the forward work programme, the committee requested a report on the capacity of the county’s cemeteries, whilst also seeking an update on a number of ongoing capital projects and services provided by Bereavement Services.

It was said that without action being taken to address these shortages, deceased residents may no longer be able to be buried in their local cemetery with other family members and loved ones.

During the meeting yesterday (March 7), the Bereavement Services team stated that 'further action' was needed to 'address shortage in burial space' at both sites.

Bereavement Services are currently in charge of 15 cemeteries, eight closed churchyards and two gardens of remembrance throughout Flintshire.

They deal with around 400 burials annually.

Bereavement Services' Anthony Stanford pointed out that the national picture shows that 25% of deaths now result in families opting for burials for loved ones over cremation.

But, in Flintshire that trend is reversed at 70% in favour of burials, meaning there is 'much greater demand on burial space' compared to other counties.

This has led to 'increased risk and challenge' around capacity at Hawarden and Buckley, Mr Stanford added.

Both cemeteries are said to be at 'critical level' in that respect, having just 'four years' capacity remaining each with Hawarden having 200 plots left available and Buckley having just 20.

Hawarden No. 2 is Flintshire’s main cemetery with approximately 33% of all annual interments being undertaken at the cemetery.

Given the above, two separate projects aimed at providing additional capacity at each of the above locations are currently progressing and an update was provided to the scrutiny committee.

In 2018 / 2019, Cabinet committed to retain cemetery provision in existing locations (or as close to as possible) rather than moving to a “centralised” cemetery to ensure that families could continue to be buried in the same location as previous family members and to minimise any further distress to bereaved families at this extremely sensitive and difficult time.

Initial stages of the proposed extension to Hawarden No.2 Cemetery are progressing. However, unfortunately all land owned by FCC within the proximity of Hawarden No. 2 cemetery has been ruled out on the grounds of environmental / conservation concerns.

A section of land located to the rear of the former Registrar’s Office had initially been identified, however, all efforts to progress this has proven unsuccessful.

As a result, an alternative option of acquiring a section of land in private ownership is being pursued.

A meeting with the private landowners will be planned in the next couple of months, once designs and surveys have been completed. The council currently has a capital budget allocation remaining of £250k for this project.

However, this may need to be revisited due to the recent increases in industry market costs and required procurement approach.

For Buckley Cemetery, unfortunately, there is no option for extension at the current cemetery on Elfed Drive due to the surrounding residential developments.

Within the existing cemetery, there is an area of low-lying land that has yet to be utilised for burials, but ground investigations have found that the shallow water table in this area means that the area is very wet and heavily waterlogged in the winter months.

Further investigations have commenced for the installation of a system of below ground, sealed pre-cast concrete burial chambers or a system of interlocking composite chambers into this area.

With this solution, the current low levels would be raised, and a system of paths constructed around the “chambers”. The area in question would have the chambers installed “en-masse,” which, depending on the final design, could have the potential to accommodate up to 100 grave spaces, giving a minimum of 15 years’ additional capacity.

Scrutiny committee members noted that there was a 'need to increase capacity' at the cemeteries and agreed that further reports were needed on costs before a decision could be made.

It was added that 'capital funding' would be sought for the options in question.