Newport Town Council’s plans to extend the town cemetery have been dealt a huge blow after it was revealed the land earmarked has been declared unfit for purpose.
The town council only purchased the land from Telford &?Wrekin Council in 2005, but have now been told they will have to fork out more than £70,000 to repair the area.
The news was discovered at Wednesday night’s Leisure and Environmental Services Committee meeting in a report which highlighted major problems with water levels.
With the existing cemetery likely to be full in three to four years, a working group has been hastily set up to unearth the council’s options.
Chairman of the committee, Councillor Tim Nelson said the costs could total more than the £70,000 estimate and he added questions should be raised about why the report was not carried out before the land was purchased.
But council clerk Lee Jakeman said the conditions might not have been the same in 2005, with the cemetery land now requiring consent from the environmental agency.
Councillor Nelson said: “We will set up a working group to look at options and costs.
“We are committed to providing cemetery provision in Newport but we have discovered something this council did not know about which is extremely worrying.”
Town Mayor, Councillor Roy Scammell, said it was an issue he had raised at earlier meeting.
He said: “I’ve looked at the report and I think it’s truly disturbing what’s been said in there.
“There are a lot of issues from water levels to movement of sand.
“This is an extensive issue to sort out and I would describe the land as not fit for purpose in its current state.
“There are plenty of options which all seem to be expensive and there is a lot of detail in there but I believe repair work will cost between £50,000 and £70,000.”
The report showed that cemetery space for burials is becoming increasingly limited with just 10 places available - although there are plans to add an extra 15 spaces on the current site.
The working group will report back at the next meeting.