The creation of a new cemetery in Wishaw is set to move a step closer this week.
The council’s Environmental and Transportation Committee meets at the Civic Centre today (Wednesday) and is poised to agree to the development of a new graveyard at Pather Farm.
Should the proposals be given the green light then a formal planning application to construct the new cemetery could be submitted as early as this summer as a replacement to the current Cambusnethan Cemetery, which was opened back in 1861.
In a report to the committee, which meets today (Wednesday), the council’s head of environmental assets Nicole Paterson said: “Cambusnethan Cemetery has already been extended several times and there is now no remaining adjacent land suitable for burial.
“The service therefore intends to develop a new cemetery for Wishaw.
“Suitable land within the council’s ownership has been identified at Pather Farm and the service is currently drawing up initial designs and intends to submit a planning application at this location by summer 2019.
“Phase one would see the creation of approximately 1000 new lairs, which would provide for 11 years at current levels of demand.
“More than 1600 further lairs would be created in additional phases.”
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Ms Paterson added that provision for Muslim burial at Cambusnethan remains sufficient due to the low number of internments.
The report indicates the run-out date of developed lairs at Cambusnethan will be 2024 with the Muslim burial space not set to end until 2049.
The run-out date of lairs in Benhar Cemetery in Shotts is not until 2035.
However, with a potential extension into council-owned land to the north of the current graveyard, Benhar has a current run-out date of 2084.
