Sheffield cemeteries will have extra plots to cope with burial space crisis
Plans to increase burial space across Sheffield will involve creating hundreds more plots in four city cemeteries.
Sheffield City Council is also aiming to establish four to six new cemeteries.
Sheffield City Council’s strategy and resources committee yesterday (July 16) heard that 100 extra plots could be established at Tinsley Park Cemetery, 30 to 60 at City Road, an unspecified number at Stocksbridge and 200 in Shiregreen.
Ellie Fraser, head of bereavement and coronial services, said: “Burial capacity in the city is extremely limited, with particular pressure on Muslim burial provision.”
The city is likely to run out of space by winter 2033 at the latest. The situation for Muslim burials is far worse, because demand is high and there are limited areas.
Muslim burial plots could run out by between winter 2027 and summer 2028.
Reassuring
Ms Fraser said four sites have been identified for investigation in S8, S11, S13 and S35. The search is still on in other places with high need.
Coun Abdul Khayum said: “This is pleasing and reassuring. We have moved considerably from where were two to three years ago.
“Lots of worry has been expressed by the Muslim community.”
Coun Martin Smith said he had trouble finding a burial spot for his father and would not want anyone to go through that distress.
Coun John Booker asked that proper archaeological investigations would take place at a site in Beaver Hill, S13 named in the Local Plan. There is evidence of possible Romano-British and Iron Age remains.
Ms Fraser said extensive investigations are taking place.