Tetbury Faces Burial Ground Crisis: Town Council Explores Options Amid Space Shortage

Tetbury Faces Burial Ground Crisis: Town Council Explores Options Amid Space Shortage

Tetbury, 4th September 2024 —Tetbury Town Council (TTC) has announced that it is facing a critical shortage of burial space, with no land currently available to establish a new burial ground. During a public meeting held on Wednesday 4th September, residents were informed that once the final plot at St Saviours Churchyard is taken, the town will be left without the capacity for any future burials. As a result, TTC is now working to explore all possible options to address this urgent issue.

The town’s burial situation has become increasingly complex following the 1st September 2024 zoning change, which placed Tetbury in an Source Protection Zone 2 (SPZ2). While this zoning temporarily allows new burials, the Environment Agency (EA) reserves the right to revert the town to an SPZ1 zone—a designation that would prohibit all burials. As such, the ability to plan for a long-term solution is crucial to the town’s future.

Council Exploring Possible Burial Sites

In response to the looming shortage, TTC has committed to investigating alternative sites within the town’s boundaries. One potential location being explored is part of Tetbury’s recreation ground, which has been identified for potential borehole testing to assess whether the land is suitable for burials. This matter will be discussed in detail at the upcoming Full Council Meeting on Monday 23rd September 2024, at Tetbury library, where further information will be shared with the community.

The potential use of the recreation ground comes with several significant challenges, including:

1. Land Ownership: The land is not owned by Tetbury Town Council, which poses an immediate barrier.
2. Acquiring the Land: Because the land in question is “in trust” there are number of restrictions on the land that would require several terms to be satisfied for the land to be acquired by TTC. The process would be both complex and probably quite long and would involve the cooperation, agreement and approval of the Dolphin Recreation Centre (DRC) Trustees, the Charity Commission and a Town Referendum.  
3. Sport England: If the land were to be acquired, planning approval would need to be obtained for burial. However, Sport England would most likely stipulate that an equivalent amount of new recreation space will need to be provided to replace the land being taken.
4. The Environment Agency: The environment agency would need to approve the land as suitable for burial.

Costs and Delays

The council has emphasised that any solution will take considerable time and financial resources. The process of acquiring land, securing permissions, conducting tests, and navigating the referendum and planning processes could lead to delays in making a new burial ground available. Additionally, there are concerns that the existing burial space at St Saviours Churchyard could reach full capacity before a new site is established, leading to a lack of burial facilities for residents.

“We understand the importance of this issue to the community, and we are doing everything in our power to find a viable solution, ”said Cllr P Coleman Mayor of Tetbury Town Council. “However, the challenges we face in terms of land ownership and the necessary permissions mean that it will take time to provide a new burial site. We will continue to update residents as the situation evolves.”

What’s at Stake?

If the town fails to secure a new burial ground in a timely manner, it will result in significant disruptions to the community. The costs associated with the project will also fall upon taxpayers, as planning, testing, and permissions will require additional funds.

Tetbury Town Council remains committed to working with the community to ensure a smooth transition to a new burial ground and will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

About Tetbury Town Council
Tetbury Town Council serves the residents of Tetbury, providing essential local services and managing community resources. The council is committed to ensuring the well-being of its residents and addressing the challenges the town faces as it continues to grow.