PLANS to create a new cemetery in East Lancs with space for more than 7,000 graves could result in cemetery fees being increased by potentially £160 or more to cover costs of the scheme.

Pendle Council has been searching for suitable land for a new cemetery and has now identified land south of Halifax Road and north of King’s Causeway, between Brierfield and Nelson

The land is currently owned by Lancashire County Council and is next to allotments owned by Brierfield Town Council and another smaller site owned by Pendle Council.

Pendle Council would need to buy the large site from the county for an estimated £840,000 plus fees of around £40,000. Construction costs and a wall for ashes would cost another £500,000, councillors have been told.

Councillors will debate how the new cemetery, with access from Edge End Avenue or Halifax Road, should be paid for at a policy committee meeting on Thursday.

A report states: “Negotiations with the county council have been on the basis Pendle will acquire the whole of the site unconditionally. Liberata Property Services (a contractor for Pendle Council) considers this to be a reasonable price, taking into account comparable sites and the council’s proposed use, and recommends acceptance of it."

Around four of the 6.3 hectares would be suitable for burial space, creating around 7,400 graves, subject to planning permission. Across the borough the number of burial spaces would increase from around 1,120 to 8,520.

The report adds: "The intention is to provide significant, dignified burial space in an attractive green environment.

Councillors must decide whether to re-prioritise the borough’s capital programme, add the works to the existing programme or add the costs to cemetery fees, resulting in a charge of £181 per burial plot. If this was added to all cemeteries across the borough, it would be an increase of £164.

Labour's Cllr Asjad Mahmood said before the meeting: "I and colleagues realised three years ago cemetery provision would become an issue in years to come. Sadly the pandemic saw an increase in the use of burial plots.

“In past years, the previously Labour-led council asked officers to identify a suitable site. The land off Halifax Road and King’s Causeway was identified six months ago, due to pandemic delays.

“I will be pushing for speedy decisions so a new cemetery is available as quickly as possible. Otherwise we could be faced with a possibility of residents not being able to bury loved ones here, which would be heart-breaking.”

Cllr Faraz Ahmed added: "I am alarmed that one option is to further increase the cost of burials. I oppose any further increases in cemetery fees which, at this time, is not fair on families struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.”