Views sought on turning allotments into cemetery

Reading Borough Council says using the allotment site would create burial space in the town for a further 14 years

People are being asked for their views on plans to return a town's allotments to a cemetery ground.

Reading Borough Council wants use the allotment site at Henley Road because it predicts the borough will run out of burial space within the next six years.

The council said it had opted to use the allotment site, which is reserve cemetery ground, after attempts to find new land were unsuccessful.

Residents, faith groups and allotment holders can have their say on the plans until 6 December.

Reading Borough Council said using the allotment site on Henley Road next to the cemetery would provide about 2,300 new graves

The council said using the allotment site would create burial space for a further 14 years.

The other option, it said, was to stop providing new graves in Reading "once we run out of space, which we expect to happen around 2030".

Some of those who garden at the site, which holds about 100 allotments next to Reading Cemetery, have described the plans as "tragic".

Ellie Emberson, the council's for corporate services and resources, said: "We have now reached the point where a definitive decision needs to be made.

"The proposal to return the allotment land to its intended use as cemetery ground is not made lightly and has only come forward after an extensive, but ultimately unsuccessful, search for realistic and affordable alternatives at this time."

The Henley Road allotment site is reserve cemetery ground

If a decision is made to use the allotment site for burials, allotment holders would be given notice to relocate to other allotment sites over the coming two to three years, the council said.

The authority said it was also looking at options to extend some existing allotment sites in Reading to create more space for gardeners.

It said it expected to reach a decision in the New Year.