A £1.2 million extension to a Co Armagh cemetery is due to be officially opened next month.
The work was carried out by Earney Contracts Ltd at Kernan Cemetery at Portadown.
And now Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is preparing for an official launch.
This is due to take place on Wednesday, October 24.
The development at Portadown formed part of the local authority’s works programme for the past financial year.
It was a key element of a five-year corporate plan.
Work got underway last summer and has led to some traffic disruption.
But the increase in the number of spaces available is expected to meet local needs for many years to come.
The council owns six cemeteries across the borough, with the life-span of these ranging from just years to decades.
Just two years ago Armagh I reported that the two council-owned cemeteries in the former Craigavon Council area – Kernan in Portadown and Lurgan – would be at capacity in less than six years, with collectively less than 1,000 plots.
Details on the expected availability of plots was passed to the council’s estates team who were forced to plan for the sustainable provision of cemetery plots across the borough.
The Kernan Cemetery extension will ensure that provision can be met.
The completed development has now been formally handed back to council.
The offiicial opening will take place at 2.30pm on October 24.
Proceedings will be led by Lord Mayor Julie Flaherty and all councillors have also been invited to attend.
