PROGRESS is finally being made in the search for cemetery space in Long Sutton after more than three years of exploring different options.
Parish councillors have narrowed down their search to three potential sites after discussions at their annual parish meeting.
Land on allotments in Back Lane and Seagate Road, and extending the existing cemetery in Cinder Ash Park were all agreed to be put forward last Thursday – with discussions due to resume again at the next full council meeting on April 26.
The clock has been ticking for councillors to make a firm decision on future burials after estimations revealed there was only about two years’ worth of burial ground left in the current cemetery on London Road.
Speaking after the meeting, parish council chairman Coun John Clarey said: “Two or three years ago we were running out of space very quickly. Families were reserving more than one plot for their children and we had to make the decision that plots could only be reserved for one person and their next of kin.
“This has saved us time. We have two or three years on our side and time to go slow and do the job properly.”
Coun Clarey said the council was conscious to attempt not to take any more of the town’s park land through the site selection.
He said only two members of the public turned up to hear the discussion.
Coun Clarey added: “Not every councillor was there last week so there may be a different feeling at the next meeting. If so, we will be back to the drawing board and look again.
“A year ago we did ask that if any landowners had anything available that they could sell to get in touch but not one came forward.”
The cemetery has caused rows amongst parish councillors in the past few months, with Coun Julian Browse lodging two Freedom of Information Act requests in an attempt to find out how many burials there have been in Long Sutton in the last ten years and for a plan of the allotment sites.
Coun Bobbie Ashton then walked out of the March parish meeting after Coun Browse repeatedly asked questions on the issue.