Many cemeteries in cities are already packed and cannot accept any new bodies (Image: Getty)
A report into Britain’s burial crisis has recommended that cemeteries across England and Wales be reopened and reused for new burials.
The drastic proposal from the Law Commission has made one vicar “very, very nervous,” who added that relatives of the dead “may well have quite strong feelings about their loved ones” being disturbed.
The commission, which is tasked with updating 170-year-old burial laws in England and Wales, claims England and Wales are running out of space for the dead. It revealed that many cemeteries in cities are already packed and cannot accept any new bodies.
However, under the current Disused Burial Grounds Act, it is unlawful to redevelop a graveyard other than to enlarge a place of worship. Council-run cemeteries and non-religious graveyards can only be redeveloped if the owner obtains an Act of Parliament.
Burial plots would be eligible to be reopened once the last person was buried at least 75 years ago (Image: Getty)
The proposal from the Law Commission claims that burial grounds should be now reopened and reused – however, only after public consultation and government approval. The measure will only apply to cemeteries that have been declared full.
Alex Davies-Jones, a junior justice minister, said the government was awaiting the commission’s recommendations “with interest”.
Under the new measures, burial plots would become eligible to be reopened once the last person was buried at least 75 years ago.
Prof Nick Hopkins, the commissioner for property, family and trust law, said any change would need to be considered in consultation with the public, amid fears of “insensitivity”.
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He said: “We’re very keen to ensure that there are proper safeguards in place so that where graves are reused that is done in a way that is sensitive. And in a way that has the public’s support, and is not done against the wishes of relatives of the person buried. Our proposals provide a significant opportunity to reform burial and cremation law and secure burial space for future generations.”
Dr Julie Rugg, an expert on burial reform from the University of York, said proposed changes were “absolutely necessary”.
She told Radio 4’s Today programme: “Our system isn’t working, and is actually threatening our funeral heritage [and] the Victorian cemeteries we love so much. We’re running out of space. A lot of people don’t really have an issue with this. I don’t think anybody would anticipate that their grave would never be touched again. It’s just not reasonable.”
Dr Rugg highlighted a recent survey of 1,600 people which found that the majority expected that their graves would be reused after 100 years.
A report into Britain’s burial crisis has recommended that cemeteries be reopened (Image: Getty)
However, Giles Fraser, vicar of St Anne’s Church in Kew, west London, voiced some doubt about the proposals. He said he felt “very conflicted” about the issue.
Mr Fraser said: “I have a graveyard that’s full. I have a mausoleum that’s full. There’s no space. But I’m also aware that the dead protect these open spaces for the living. I’d be very, very nervous about reusing things to build on them. This is not what’s being proposed, but this is going in that direction.
“It’s an extraordinary administrative nightmare just to move a gravestone. You may not be able to contact the relatives, but relatives may well have quite strong feelings about their loved ones with the expectation this is where they had been laid to rest.”
Public consultation on the proposed changes is open until January 2025.