Nuneaton residents' right to home town burial

A petition is underway to ensure that townsfolk in Nuneaton have their own graveyard to lay their loved ones to rest.

It has been launched following news that Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council intends to make Marston Lane Cemetery in Bedworth a graveyard for all residents in the borough to use.

This, according to David Devall of Devall and Son funeral directors, is an 'appalling' move and he is determined to force the council to change its mind.

"I was absolutely appalled to hear the news," he said.

"I say this with no disrespect to Bedworth but I think that the people of Nuneaton should be able to bury their loves ones in their own home town.

"This will affect families throughout Nuneaton, it is totally inappropriate

"Yes, we are the same borough, but we are two different towns. How are people from Nuneaton who don't drive expected to make three or four bus trips to go and visit their loved ones in Bedworth - it is appalling,"

Members of the borough council's cabinet made the controversial decision in a bid to try and solve the grave lack of places for people to bury their loved ones in Nuneaton.

Mr Devall told the News that it is an issue that needed tackling 15 years ago and questioned why the council cannot find a suitable location in the town.

"I agree that they shouldn't have used recreation grounds, but surely there is some land in Nuneaton, there seems to be enough for housing but not for the people of Nuneaton to have somewhere to bury their loved ones," said the owner of the long-established family run firm in Attleborough.

"They (the council) have taken the easy way out," he said,

"Surely our dead deserve respect."

With this in mind, he has started a petition in which bCont. from front.

he is urging townsfolk to sign.

"I want the council to look at this again and I would urge everyone to sign this," Mr Devall said.

"They can either write to us, email us or come into to see us."

It is not just the decision that has enraged the local businessman: "The council did not consult us or any other funeral directors about the plans," he said.

"The lack of communication has been appalling."

He claims that people are already hit by the most expensive crematorium in the country: "But the fact that people are willing to pay the highest charges in the country reiterates my message that people from Nuneaton, who have been born and bred here, want their funerals, be it cremation or burial in their home town," he concluded.

A spokesperson for Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said: "We are not in position as yet to consult as the recommendation of extending Marston Lane cemetery was only approved by cabinet on Wednesday. "The council will continue to look at all land in the borough as it becomes available for use as a cemetery."

Anyone who would like to sign the petition should either call into Devall and Son at 2 Wembrook House, The Green or send an email via http://www.devallandson.com/contact

Public pressure has forced Nuneaton cemetery land re-think



PUBLIC concern has forced Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council to re-think plans to put houses on what could be potentially new cemetery land.

Town Hall leader, councillor Dennis Harvey has explained that issues raised as a result of the Nuneaton Cemetery Campaign has forced the council to re-look at what it plans to do with a piece of land in Oaston Road, which is currently occupied by the former caretaker's lodge.

The council sensationally withdrew its own planning application to build homes on the site, sparking hope for the campaign.

Cllr Harvey explained to the News that they want to look at all options.

"Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, on my request, asked for a deferral, so that we can fully examine the use of the site," Cllr Harvey said.

"Listening to public concerns about cemetery provision, we want to be sure that we have fully explored all options before proceeding with the application."

As featured in the News, Nuneaton Cemetery Campaigners are championing for the land in Oaston Road used to provide 300 desperately-needed burial spaces.

A spokesperson for Coventry and District Funeral Guild, which has joined forces with Nuneaton Muslim Society, told the News that the potential re-think by the council is positive.

"We have been accused of running the campaign for our own financial gain, which is totally inappropriate and untrue, but you could say that the council is going for financial gain if it allows this land to be used for houses." the spokeperson said.

"Let's be honest, we would much rather this land be used for extra burial space than extending Attleborough Cemetery, which we know has upset some residents, but we were forced to identify land.

"If the council let the land in Oaston Road be used for burials, then it would give us space until at least 2022-2025, giving us some breathing space to find land for a new cemetery."

But the burial battle has not yet been won.

The campaigners had planned to go into the Ropewalk Shopping Centre last Saturday to collect signatures on the petition.

But the shopping centre had to withdraw the opportunity in the eleventh hour.

The campaigners are now planning on organising another petition collection in the coming weeks.