Sheffield facing 'burial emergency' over lack of cemetery space

About 1,150 burials take place in Sheffield each year, according to the council

Sheffield is facing a possible "burial emergency" due to "very limited capacity" in its 16 council-run cemeteries, according to a report.

The document cites a lack of forward planning and investment and sets out the need for a long-term strategy.

Tinsley Park cemetery has already been closed to new burials, with about 1,150 taking place in the city annually.

Abid Hussain said it was a particular concern to the Muslim community, with cremation forbidden in Islam.

The council has said there is around five years of burial space before capacity is reached in some cemeteries, the Local Democracy Reporting Service previously reported.

Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, Mr Hussain said: "This is exasperating for the Muslim community because our faith allows for burial and not cremation and we've got very scarce burial facilities left.

"There's around 500 estimated spaces at Shiregreen, 200 at Abbey Lane and 900 at City Road. After that we run out.

"The report mentions five years capacity but that's being depleted at a rapid rate and at a meeting with bereavement services this week, we were informed there is less than three years burial space left for our community.

"That's very alarming and is a sad state of affairs for the families."

He has called on the council's bereavement services and planning department to work together to find alternative sites in order to ensure provision for at least the next 50 years.

According to the council report it is aiming to "formulate a bereavement strategy for the city which sets out our aims and aspirations for the next 25+ years".

It adds: "Alongside this we propose to start work to source new cemeteries to avoid a burial emergency, and then to develop cemetery service provision in line with all city resident's requirements as determined through consultation and strategy development."