Work has started to develop extensions to three local cemeteries – all of which are in danger of running out of burial plots within the next seven years.
At the same time, the idea of a new crematorium for the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area also appears to be winning public support and is “still on the agenda”.
The Orchard Cemetery at Richhill, as well as ABC Council-owned facilities at Lurgan and Dromore, are being looked at with a view to increasing capacity.
Separate submissions to council’s May environmental committee sitting give an indication of where things currently sit – and where they need to be.
A draft business plan for the climate, sustainability and parks department confirms a target to have investigations into the potential for the three extensions completed by the end of March next year.
Based on previous burial numbers, it has been estimated that the cemetery at Lurgan will be filled to capacity by 2029. But the business plan indicates the availability of additional ‘space’ – 30 acres in fact – which would allow an extension to be delivered there.
Plots at both the Orchard Cemetery in Richhill and Dromore could be exhausted within the next seven years if trends continue.
To deliver both of these extensions would require the purchase of additional neighbouring lands.
Figures forecast an increasing elderly population, with an estimated 26 per cent rise in the number of people in Northern Ireland, aged 65 and over, by 2047.
Council has also been considering the expected population growth within the borough itself and an increase in households requiring cemetery services.
“These factors, as well as the decline in available plots within private church burial grounds, will be borne in mind with the development of a cemeteries strategy for the borough, hence council’s commitment to explore cemetery extensions for Lurgan, Richhill and Dromore,” the draft business plan states.
“It will be necessary to review burial figures regularly to ensure supply of plots is meeting demand as predicted and any significant change accounted for in predicting future burial plot provision,” the committee has been told.
Meanwhile, there has been “significant work” completed in the past financial year to “transform the cemetery service”.
This will include a new pricing structure and a review of management rules and regulations.
A recent public consultation event on the way forward saw 34 responses.
With the suggestion of a crematroium being developed locally to ease pressure on provision, 23 were in favour, four opposed and seven undecided.
Meanwhile, 15 would consider using a cremation service for themselves or a loved one, while eight would not and 11 did not answer.
Furthermore, 24 would support council exploring the possibility of woodland burials, while 10 would not.
Sinn Fein Councillor Mary O’Dowd – pointing to the low number of respondents when the report came to the environmental services committee – sought an update.
“Are we going anywhere with the crematorium or has that just been knocked on the head now?,” she asked.
Claire Duddy, head of climate, parks and sustainability, was very clear and insisted it remained very much on council’s radar.
She responded: “Even though the numbers were smaller, there is still an appetite for a crematorium in the borough and that’s something that we will be taking forward.
“I mentioned earlier that we are looking at the cemetery structure and staffing structure and resource, so I will be looking at introducing a new senior role, a bereavement manager role, to take forward some of these really detailed pieces of work that we just couldn’t couldn’t do with the current complement of staff that we have.
“So it’s certainly something that is still on the agenda to take forward.”
