Cemeteries of the Future

Hawarden Cemetery on Cross Tree Lane is Flintshire's most popular cemetery. However, it is predicted to run out of space for burials by 2027. 

Traditional burials are an inefficient way of storing human remains, as well as being bad for the environment because of heavy land use. 

Once cemeteries become full, they no longer bring in any revenue to the local authority, which means they become very expensive to maintain. This is why many older cemeteries are left in a state of disrepair, with many left to churches and volunteers to try and maintain.

I made a proposal to the Council's Climate Change Committee asking that Flintshire County Council begin providing above ground burial space, as well as traditional burials.

The photograph above depicts what are known as columbaria. They are above ground burial chambers which store cremated remains behind a memorial plaque. They come in many shapes, sizes and architectural designs. They provide a permanent resting place, like traditional burials whilst being much more cost effective. They can also be built on ground that is not suitable for traditional burials, which means the lifetime of existing cemeteries can be extended.

I am pleased that the Committee voted to support my proposal, which will now hopefully lead to above ground burials being offered in Flintshire in the near future.