Hundreds of graves, some containing the remains of infants and stillborn babies dating back to 1855, are set to be disturbed in a Hertfordshire town to make way for new burials.
Bishop’s Stortford Town Council has identified 1,068 burial records across more than 900 plots in Bishop’s Stortford Old Cemetery that could be reused as the town faces a critical shortage of burial space by 2036.
The authority gained unprecedented powers through the Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Act 2024 and approval from the Diocese of St Albans to reuse plots. This makes Bishop’s Stortford Town Council reportedly the only authority outside London to be granted such powers by Parliament without requiring special government permission.
The affected graves, none of which have seen burials since 1949 or are maintained as Commonwealth War Graves, will be reused over several decades.
Council leader Miriam Swainston assured the Press Association that the sites "will be treated with the utmost respect if it becomes necessary to reuse them." Relatives of those interred in affected plots have until 15 October 2026 to lodge an objection, which would prevent reuse for at least 25 years.
Ms Swainston emphasised that reusing graves "will enable current and future residents to bury their loved ones in the town and easily visit their graves."
She added: "There are strict protocols to ensure every effort is made to contact families and seek permission to reuse graves more than 75 years old. In truth, many graves are untended but even these will be treated with the utmost respect if it becomes necessary to reuse them. The purpose is to serve the current community, not to ignore our heritage."
She also noted ongoing improvements to the cemetery and the involvement of a "Friends of the Cemetery" group.
This local decision comes after the independent Law Commission published a report earlier this year on burial and cremation rules.
While it recommended that London local authorities, which hold similar powers, should retain their grave reuse rights without government permission, the commission also called for law reform.
It suggested a mandatory 100-year period between the last interment and grave reuse, and recommended wider changes to allow more burial ground operators across England and Wales to reuse graves, subject to local consultations and government approval.
