Graves to be re-used for burials

[scooter]

Hmmm..... I'm sure a fair few people on this forum will have something to say about this!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6722481.stm

[marilyn morning]

Hi Scooter,

This may be a silly question, but why don't they just create some new grave yards to bury future generations? I think this is horrible idea, but then again I live in a different part of the globe.

Regards
Marilyn

[donna petrie]

HI: I don't really have a problem with that concept. Personally I'm all for cremation; we need land for the living. I do believe that steps should taken to identify and keep records of who all were there before, both electronically and perhaps with a smaller marker. My husband is from Italy and the time frame is shorter unless you keep paying a fee.

I do see a drop in business for those who make markers etc, and perhaps the cemeteries will not be able to charge a "perpetual upkeep" fee. It will need a readjustment for a lot of people.
I was just talking with my family and I said that after 100 years they should take my ashes and release them to the winds. then they could reuse the niche. Hope I don't offend anyone with my thoughts. Donna

[scooter]

Hi Scooter,

This may be a silly question, but why don't they just create some new grave yards to bury future generations? I think this is horrible idea, but then again I live in a different part of the globe.

Regards
Marilyn

Hi Marilyn,

Probably because they could build houses on the land, which of course makes more money - for someone....

No land seems to be sancrosanct at the moment when the prospect of residential housing comes into play.

Yours surrounded by concrete,

Scott

[Archiver]

This has been going on for years though - if the grave is 100 years old, and there are no owners it can be reused. They're wanting to reduce that to 75 years. Imagine if everyone was still buried - graveyards would be enormous!

[marilyn morning]

Hi Scooter,

Ah, that explains it "good old fashion greed!"


Hi Archiver,

Here in New England, USA we preserve our historical cemeteries which is why this article caught me by surprise. Yes, we do indeed have some rather large cemeteries. On ocassion some of the older cemeteries had to be relocated for highway construction, etc.

Regards
Marilyn

[LesleyB]

Hi Scooter
Reading through the article it seems to be an issue affecting England and Wales - not seeing Scotland mentioned so maybe space in cemeteries is not a problem here ...yet.

"Ministers say all designated burial space in England and Wales will be full in 30 years, unless changes are made. "
....The government said it was in discussion with the Church of England about re-opening closed graveyards "where desired". ...

Although on a related article is does say " The poor state of Britain's overcrowded cemeteries could mean old graves will have to be re-used, according to a committee of MPs. " Not very clear...

Best wishes
Lesley

[AndrewP]

In Edinburgh, the Council has recently allotted an area of land to make a new cemetery as the existing cemeteries are reaching capacity.

I don't know the figures, but I would say that in most city areas of the UK, there are crematoria and that is the way chosen by the majority of families there. Outside of the cities, where they are within reasonable travelling distance, cremation is chosen by a fair number. The further you get from the cities, the less practical cremation becomes through distance from a crematorium, and burial is the only practical way for most.

To put it into perspective, Highland Council administers an area of over 10,000 square miles (larger than Belgium) with a population of 210,000 and has only one crematorium, in Inverness. Some parts of their area are more than 100 miles from Inverness, over rural roads that could easily take over three hours each way. For these areas burial is the only practical option.

And beyond Highland Council, I am fairly sure that none of the Island Councils have crematoria in their areas. The factor that these areas have on their side is that they have more likelihood of finding available land for expanding their cemeteries, or creating new cemeteries.

All the best,

AndrewP

[scopeo]

Further to Andrew's comments re the distance sometimes required for a cremation.

Last year my wife and I had to fly from Sydney to a country town due to a sudden death in the family. We decided to opt for a cremation and were stunned when we were told that it would be a 2 hour journey each way to the crematorium.

Obviously a similar problem here in Australia.

John

[Anne H]

I’ve known about the 100-year rule for quite some time and find it sickening. Granted, we need land for the living, but graveyards are for our dead and we should respect the wishes of those who prefer to be buried in consecrated ground. If you really think about it, some people are still alive at 100 years old, and the older I get I realize that 100 years isn’t a long time…I’m a little more than half way there already, and I wouldn’t want to be kicked out of my grave, nor would I want it for my ancestors or anyone else.

I know that Old Monkland Cemetery in the Coatbridge area is full and they bought land for a new graveyard not too far away, so if the powers that be really wanted to find land for new graveyards, whether it’s England or Scotland or anywhere else, there is still plenty of land around, but as was mentioned before, greed might take precedence!

Here's some interesting bits on cemetery plots expiration dates in various places.

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mce ... ights.html
Regards,
Anne H