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BBC News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
More burial plots for Wakefield will be created, pledges council
More burial plots will be provided in Wakefield, after concerns about limited space in the city's main cemetery. Wakefield Cemetery, on Sugar Lane, dates back to 1859 and is set to become full within seven years, according to a council report. Opposition leader Nadeem Ahmed, from the Conservative and Independent Group, called for the allotments next to the site to be given priority when negotiating more space for Wakefield Council has instead pledged to consider a range of suitable sites in the city, so options are not limited. Labour deputy leader Jack Hemingway told the council debate that securing burial provision that met the needs of all communities was being taken seriously."There is currently sufficient burial space at Sugar Lane and the council is pro-actively using the time we have to seek expanded burial provision when that space runs out," he councillor added the process to create burial land was not straightforward, with high environmental requirements now in place. A finance report, published last month, estimated the cost of the work at a potential new site to be around £100,000, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Unequivocal commitment The council has extended cemeteries or explored other potential sites across the district in recent January 2023, work began to create 1,000 plots by extending Hemsworth the same year, surveys and drilling were carried out at Barracks Field, in Pontefract, to test if it was suitable to be turned into a said surveys had also been carried out at a number of potential burial sites in Wakefield."We want to ensure that families can choose to bury their loved ones in the towns in which they lived," he added."We aim to meet the needs of all faiths, and those of no faith."We have already made a commitment to ensure sufficient burial space for Wakefield. I am happy to unequivocally repeat that today."The deputy leader said the council did not want to preclude other sites that might be more suitable at this stage. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Wakefield's cemetery provision must be priority, councillor says
The creation of a new cemetery in Wakefield should be made a priority as the city's main one is expected to become full within seven years, a councillor has said. Nadeem Ahmed, leader of the opposition Conservative and Independent Group, said people in the city had become "deeply concerned about the future availability of plots".A recent council report found Wakefield Cemetery, known as Sugar Lane Cemetery, was expected to become full before has put forward a motion ahead of a full council meeting later, which urged officers to "fully engage with all stakeholders with an interest in the Sugar Lane site". 'Cultural importance' The motion also called for nearby landowners, allotment holders, religious groups and residents to be consulted before a final decision is made on a new councillor said allotments next to the cemetery, which dates back to 1859, should be "given priority in all negotiations for new burial provision".The cemetery, at Belle Vue, is within Ahmed's Wakefield South motion stated: "Sugar Lane Cemetery at Belle Vue is one of Wakefield's oldest and most historically significant burial grounds."It has served generations of local families and remains a site of deep personal and cultural importance."A lack of available space within Wakefield would force families to travel long distances for burials which could be both financially and emotionally burdensome."Residents are deeply concerned about the future availability of plots, particularly for those whose religious beliefs require burial rather than cremation."Every effort must be made to ensure that Wakefield's burial traditions and cultural needs continue to be met for generations to come and that preserve the dignity of those who pass away in the future". Councillors are due consider the motion at a meeting later, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said. A finance report, published last month, estimated the cost of the work at a potential new site, which was not identified in the document, to be around £100, council has extended cemeteries or explored other potential sites in order to provide new burial plots across the district in recent January 2023, work began to create 1,000 plots by extending Hemsworth council said at the time that the £500,000 project would allow families to lay loved ones to rest in the town for decades to work saw 1,175 plots formed on 3.4 acres (1.4 hectares) of land bordering the town's existing the same year, surveys and drilling were carried at Barracks Field, in Pontefract, to test if it was suitable to be turned into a cemetery. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
18-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bradford: Darley Street Market scheme called a 'debacle'
A project to regenerate markets in Bradford has been called a "near comical example" of spiralling costs by Conservative group on Bradford Council expressed cynicism at a meeting to unlock further funding for the Darley Street Market cost of replacing the old Oastler and Kirkgate markets has now risen to more than £ Labour-run authority responded that it was "investing in regenerating the city" and needed money to fit out the new stalls. A budget meeting today will see a vote on whether to release more funding.A report said much of the work had been completed but the building cannot open until the fitting out stage was finished, according to the Local Democracy Reporting amount of money needed was not disclosed but the report said it was essential to enable the market to Felstead, Conservative and Independent Group spokesman for regeneration, planning and transportation, said: "This is just the latest of many, many near comical examples of how the council's capital programme is being mismanaged on a massive scale."The half-empty One City Park, the completely empty Bradford Live and the never ready Darley Street Market."He said when Labour had increased the original budget of £23.5m by £1.4m in early 2024 they were prepared to put it down as "one of those things"."However, when only a few months later a further £2.4m was urgently required, it was clear to us that the situation was yet another example of gross mismanagement."He said there was "no financial or any other form of control" of the it as a "debacle" he said it was unacceptable that a project due to be completed a year ago was "still subject to discussions part way into the City of Culture year, about what events can be hosted on-site". 'Building momentum' In response to the criticism, Alex Ross-Shaw, portfolio holder for regeneration, planning & transport, said: "Bradford Labour has invested in the regeneration of our district against a backdrop of ruinous Conservative austerity that took £350m out of Bradford and offered little in return."So it's right we evaluate what has worked well and what we can improve on as we move to the next generation of projects such as City Village, which the government has just confirmed £30m for to help deliver 1,000 quality homes in the city centre."Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
