RESIDENTS are called to share their views on a creative idea for dealing with shrinking burial space.
John Pitt, town and county councillor for Abergele, is calling for people to make their views known on his proposal to bring a mausoleum into the town amid fears land for a new graveyard will not be found.
He said: “The issue of burial provision in Abergele came up again in a meeting on Thursday (September 15). It’s very difficult, as we can’t find a suitable site, and the money put aside by Conwy Council has been reabsorbed into the budget.”
Cllr Pitt said his suggestion was inspired by places like New Orleans and Gibraltar, where conditions made it difficult to conduct underground burials, and said the mausoleum in St George set a precedent.
He said: “I would be perfectly happy to be buried in a mausoleum. It would allow friends and relatives to mourn their loved ones somewhere in the town, somewhere covered and warm where they can pay their respects.
“I’m trying to see what kind of reaction the idea will get from the public, and I’d welcome anyone contacting me at the Bodlondeb offices.”
Cllr Pitt cited the council-owned land in Pentre Mawr Park as a possible site for a monument.
Cllr McLennan of the Pentre Mawr ward said: “This needs to be looked at properly. We’ve had a lot of time to think about this, and I don’t think a knee-jerk reaction is needed. I’m not sure the people of Pentre Mawr would like the idea, although I can only speak for myself.”
A Conwy spokeswoman said space for a graveyard was constrained by the flood plain, but if any suitable land was found for a new graveyard, a new bid could be made for funds.