Marlborough Town Council
Cemetery Extension
Public consultationMarlborough Cemetery was opened in 1924 and now, over 100 years on, it is running out of space
Although numbers vary each year we estimate that we have enough remaining space for ashes interments for about 6 years and 10-11 years for burials. After that, it will not be possible to offer new burials within Marlborough parish.
Our proposal is to extend the cemetery onto part of Marlborough Common. As the land in question is common land, DEFRA requires the Town Council to offer alternative land to become common land, and to gain agreement from the public.
BACKGROUND
The Town Council has searched unsuccessfully for a new site in the Marlborough parish for more than 10 years. For example, cemetery land was included in the call for sites to local landowners when the Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan was being developed. Nothing came back, which is unsurprising as there is little profit for a landowner from a cemetery.
Reluctantly, having exhausted all other options it is proposed to extend the Cemetery onto part of Marlborough Common so that we are able to continue to offer burials within the parish.
The first town cemetery, now known as the Victorian Cemetery & Arboretum, is next door to the current cemetery. If people agree to the extension, it will mean family burials can continue at the same Marlborough location, providing continuity from 1855 into the future.
HAWTHORN MEADOW
When GreenSquare Homes built the houses at Hawthorn Meadow one of the planning conditions was to create a play area and adjacent amenity land, ownership of which is to be transferred to the Town Council. The handover will be completed once Wiltshire Council (the planning authority) agrees that all planning conditions have been met.
We are proceeding with the consultation ahead of that handover to prevent any delay to our plans to extend the Cemetery.
We propose that the land at Hawthorn Meadow should be registered as common land
It is roughly 4 times bigger than the area next to the cemetery.
It is located between open space at Tin Pit and the Bay Meadows Nature Reserve. Pedestrian access is via Portfields Road.
Making it common land will:
- Provide stronger protection against future development
- Guarantee public open access
- Ensure a continuous wildlife corridor from Bay Meadows Nature Reserve to Stonebridge Wild River Reserve via the rivers Og and Kennet
fIND OUT MORE
You can find out more information in these ways:
- Watch a 4.3 minute summary video introducing the consultation
- Watch a 9-minute video explaining more about the background to this project
- Read our press release
- Come along to the Town Council meeting in Marlborough Town Hall at 7 pm on Monday, 23 March - it will be the first item on the agenda
- Visit us at either site on Saturday 28 March between 10 am and 12 noon where Councillors and staff will be on hand to answer questions
- Take a look at our frequently asked questions. If you can't find an answer to your question there please send it to enquiries@marlborough-tc.gov.uk
The consultation WILL ASK
Do you support Marlborough Town Council’s proposal to extend the cemetery on to Marlborough Common, offering alternative land as common land adjacent to Hawthorn Meadow, Marlborough?
Voting
We are running the consultation in a similar way to a referendum. You'll be able to vote if you are a registered elector in the Marlborough Parish (both East and West wards). You won't receive a poll card at your address but you will be able to vote in these ways:
- Ballot day: vote in person between 8am and 8pm on Thursday, 16 April at Marlborough Town Hall
- People unable to attend on 16 April can call in to the Town Council office between 9am and 4pm on Monday 13, Tuesday 14 or Wednesday 15 April
- In both cases, photo ID will be required and names will be checked against the electoral roll. There is no postal or online alternative.
The proposed cemetery extension site is approx 3,258 square metres
The amenity land at Hawthorn Meadow is approx 12,984 square metres
