Sandwell Council officially opens new Canalside Cemetery
The delivery of the new cemetery, which was part of a £2m project, has also brought about an office building with toilets for mourners, car parking and CCTV
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has announced the official opening of its new Canalside Cemetery in Rowley Regis.
The new cemetery, which is just off Powke Lane, is a short distance from the existing cemetery and crematorium.
The delivery of the new cemetery, which was part of a £2m project, has also brought about an office building with toilets for mourners, car parking and CCTV, as well as improved the existing woodland and grassland habitats surrounding the location.
In addition, a new pedestrian crossing has been installed on Powke Lane to make access safer for pedestrians.
The new cemetery was officially opened this week by the Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Richard Jones, at a short ceremony also attended by the leader of the council, local councillors, bereavement services staff, representatives from faith communities, the council’s construction partner, O’Brien Contractors Ltd, and funeral directors.
Cllr Danny Millard, who is responsible for bereavement services, said: “Until we created this new cemetery, we were rapidly running out of burial space. Residents would have been facing the heart-breaking possibility of having to travel to other areas to bury their loved ones.
“The major improvements that we’ve made to the surrounding area means there are not only some fantastic nature habitats, we have also secured the future of the open space for walking and other activities.”
Cllr Kerrie Carmichael, leader of Sandwell Council, added: “The project has made major improvements to the ecological value of the whole site, including enhancing the existing wooded areas and improving the former canal arm, which the cemetery is named after.
“The public rights of way have been maintained across the site and the rest of the space is open to the public. Not only is the new cemetery a peaceful resting place, it’s a much-improved open space for the community.”
Stuart Chamberlain, director at O’Brien Contractors Ltd, said: “It has been rewarding to be part of the Sandwell team working on such an important civic facility and has been made more satisfying that it has been delivered by local tradesmen and suppliers for their community.”