Hertsmere Borough Council launches burial questionnaire

Allum Lane Cemetery could be full by the end of the year

A council is asking residents whether they would prefer to be buried or cremated as it decides how much extra space is needed.

Allum Lane Cemetery in Elstree, Hertfordshire, is close to capacity.

Hertsmere Borough Council is considering making a compulsory purchase of land next to the site.

A Freedom of Information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) found the cemetery could run out of space by the end of the year.

The council said purchasing the neighbouring plot of land would cost £588,000 and it wanted to be sure that demand for burial still existed.

The council says a significant minority of residents would prefer to be buried rather than cremated

Launching the Allum Lane Cemetery consultation, Parveen Rani, Labour portfolio holder for street scene, parks, leisure and culture, said: "Many of us have plans or wishes in place for when we die and we'd like to hear your views about burials and cremations in our borough.

"Whilst cremation is widely preferred nowadays, there is still a significant minority of residents who, for religious, cultural or personal reasons, would either prefer or require burial in a grave."

Residents can respond to the consultation by using the council's surveys portal.

Hertsmere is not the only council having to think about graveyard capacity.

Research by the LDRS has found that seven councils with 11 cemeteries in Hertfordshire expect them to be full within the next two decades.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, which will need new sites by 2028, has announced plans to expand Hatfield's The Lawn Cemetery.

Bishop's Stortford Town Council, which expects to run out of space by 2036, is asking Parliament for permission to disturb human remains in order to deepen plots and free up space.