Southend Council eyes new cemetery to ease shortage
In 2023, the council said just 2,500 plots remained, predicting they could be used up within seven years
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Southend Council has submitted a plan that could see a new cemetery get opened off the A127 to tackle a shortage of burial plots in the city.
News comes as the council has included land on Nestuda Way, in Westcliffe, in its emerging local plan, following warnings that Sutton Road Cemetery is running out of space.
In 2023, the council said just 2,500 plots remained, predicting they could be used up within seven years.
Since then, a preferred option to buy a 30-acre extension to the existing cemetery has not progressed.
Cllr Matt Dent, who represents business, culture and tourism at Southend Council, said: “Southend is running out of burial space in the existing cemetery. In the local plan we need to look at the needs of the community into the future and that includes burial space.
“In terms of where we would look to put this space I haven’t had a chance to fully investigate individual sites but we will need to make sure they are suitable and sustainable operations to safeguard community options with regard to burial space in the future.”
He added: “I am aware of residents’ concerns over the cost of burials in Southend. When a fully implemented plan is put into place it should make burials more affordable for people in Southend, but it’s a nuanced and complex subject to speak about. First and foremost we need to make sure there is the correct provision and the planning process is observed.”
The local plan also raises the prospect of introducing “green burials”, designed to reduce environmental impact and limit the long-term build-up of plots.
