BLACKBURN with Darwen environment boss Jim Smith has reassured residents that there is plenty of space for burials in the borough after claims it was running out of plots.
He was reacting to fears raised by objectors to a plan to build a 10,000-capacity natural burial ground in the Ribble Valley, chiefly for Muslims.
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The revived plans for a major new cemetery off the A59 near Northcote have infuriated residents who packed a public meeting this week and fear it will be mainly used by families resident in neighbouring Blackburn with Darwen.
Architect Justin Smith, from Cemetery Development Services, said there was “national burials crisis” with a 10-year supply in Blackburn with Darwen, and a five-year limit for Muslim burials at Pleasington Cemetery, He said the proposed Langho Natural Burial Ground was a timely development chosen after an exhaustive search area.
But Councillor Smith said claims that Blackburn with Darwen was running out of plots for Muslim, or any other burials, were untrue after a major extension to Pleasington cemetery.
More than £1 million was spent on extending the burial ground off Tower Road to provide 2,500 plots ensuring burials for more than two decades.
Cllr Smith said: “This suggestion that we are running out of plots for burials, Muslim or otherwise, is a myth which has been widely spread.
“We took steps to deal with the question of burial plots for the future with the scheme to extend Pleasington Cemetery.
“It’s beautiful development, a real asset to the borough providing enough space for burial for 10 years to come.
“We have enough plots for Christian, Muslim and burials from other faiths, indeed for those of no faith at all.
“When we realised there as a potential problem, we acted to ensure a supply of burial plots for at least the next 20 years, including at the Muslim section of Pleasington Cemetery.
Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: “If Blackburn with Darwen has enough plots there is not need for this development.”
In April Burnley council bosses put aside £125,000 for a future extension of Burnley Cemetery.
Land to the east of the Rossendale Road burial ground has been earmarked for the project in 2015-16.
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