Councillors 'understand' concerns over cemetery site

Two councillors say they appreciate the location of the cemetery is "some distance" from the city centre

Some councillors on Derry City and Strabane District Council have said they understand concerns that have been raised over the distance of a proposed new cemetery site from the city centre.

The planned cemetery will be situated about five miles from Londonderry city centre, on the Mullenan Road, close to the County Donegal border in the Republic of Ireland.

Two councillors have said they appreciate public transport access must be ensured.

Work is expected to commence on the new cemetery in 2025 and will see burial spaces for approximately 4,000 plots, with plans to include repositories for ashes, and also a memorial garden.

It is expected that about three funerals a day will take place at the new site upon its completion.

The new cemetery will allow for a minimum of 20 years burial capacity with the potential for further expansion on adjoining lands.

The largest cemetery in the council area is Derry's City Cemetery, located on the Lone Mor Road, which currently has more than 77,000 people buried within its grounds.

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, SDLP councillor John Boyle said that in two or three years time there will be no more plots in the City Cemetery and the council must plan for the future.

"The [new] site is out on the Mullenan Road, close to the border, which is roughly about four and half or five miles outside of the city centre.

"I understand and appreciate that some people maybe think that is some distance away, but to put that into context, the process for council to find a suitable sight has taken more than ten years.

"A significant number of alternative sites were considered, with some deemed unsuitable and others deemed too expensive."

Mr Boyle confirmed council officials "are in conversation with Translink with a view for them to potentially provide some sort of service to drop people off at Mullenan".

Public transport access

Sinn Féin's Christopher Jackson said that he also understands people concerns over the proposed location "being some distance" from the city centre.

"I do appreciate that it does seem some distance out and I know how much people value our City Cemetery and how easy it is to access it," he said.

"There is an obvious issue with transport and being able to get there and that is something that we will have to work on."

Mr Jackson said public transport access is an issue right across the north west.

He said there must be a "regular and reliable" public transport service to the site for people to visit their loved ones who will be buried there.

He said he fully understands that some people will have loved ones buried in multiple cemeteries and we must ensure they can access all sites.