Cemetery expansion plans approved by council

Bristol City Council has approved plans to expand South Bristol Cemetery and Crematorium

Councillors have approved plans to expand a city crematorium, leaving campaigners with "mixed feelings".

Due to Bristol's growing population, demand for burial plots is increasing but the expansion of South Bristol Cemetery and Crematorium has been strongly opposed by supporters of Yew Tree Farm, which is next to the site.

The approved plan, which includes an amendment from Green councillors, will allow an expansion without encroaching on Yew Tree Farm.

Councillor Steve Williams told the BBC the "right" decision had been made.

The council have confirmed burials will go onto a new site adjacent to the cemetery, in-between the existing cemetery and A38 Bridgewater Road.

Mr Williams said the site, which will accommodate 870 new burial spots over the next 10 years, is not deemed to have any conservation interest.

He said: "The remaining issue we have to deal with is how to drain the site in an ecologically-friendly way.

"Natural England have confirmed that is it perfectly possible to have a sealed pipe that runs under the grassland, into a drainage pond without damaging the ecology of the site at all.”

The new site will accommodate 870 new burial spots over the next 10 years

Catherine Withers, who lives at Yew Tree Farm, said she has "mixed emotions" about the council's decision.

She said: “What wasn’t acknowledged in that meeting is the SNCI [Site of Nature Conservation Interest] status should be more protected than a cemetery expansion, and yet nature’s overlooked.

“The crux of the matter is there will be ecological harm and there is a law in place that SNCI should come to no harms," she added. "We have actually broken that today.

"I need a seat at the table to speak up for nature."

Catherine Withers believes the land should be protected

Bristol City Council have also voted unanimously to increase allotment rents in the city.

The increases are lower than previously suggested by the council following a backlash from allotment holders.

The new charges - which will see the most popular size plot increase from £50 to £66 pounds a year - will be introduced from October next year.

Green councillor Fi Hance said the rent hike will only be for a year while the council works out a long-term plan with the extra money paying for an additional allotment officer.

She said: "A lot of the allotment associations are not delighted but they understand where we’re coming from.

“We’ll be working with allotment associations and other groups to make sure whatever we do in the future has got their buy in," she added.