Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Facing a burial space shortage, Croydon Council plans to reclaim graves unused for over 75 years at Mitcham Road Cemetery, allowing new interments.
As space in Mitcham Road Cemetery grows more limited, Croydon Council intends to recover about 150 graves for new interments.
A public notice listing 152 cemetery numbers—some of which have not been used in more than 75 years—was released by the council.
It states that there is “sufficient space for not less than one further interment” in these graves and that the current owners have not used their right to be buried for at least 75 years after the last interment.
In certain instances, no one has been buried in the tombs for seventy-five years after the grant date.
The action will eliminate the exclusive privilege to be buried in certain graves, allowing them to be utilized again, and the council has cited “diminished space in the cemetery” as justification.
At least six months after the public notice is published, the procedure will begin.
According to the council, those rights will not be terminated without the approval of the First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister if the registered owner or anyone who can convince the council that they are the graves’ owner serves a notice of objection, providing justification, before the six-month period has passed.
The Registrar of the diocese’s Consistory court may decide the case if the individual claiming ownership of the graves is unable to convince the council that they are the rightful owner.
The registered owner or the individual proving to the council that they are the owner must file a claim for compensation within six months following the right’s expiration.
Any compensation that is due must be a sum that reflects the worth of the right as agreed upon between the council and the registered owner, or in the absence of an agreement, decided by arbitration.
A further notification for the removal of mementos from the impacted graves has also been issued by the council.
Reclamation and cemetery upkeep initiatives can boost the local economy and generate jobs. Well-maintained cemeteries can draw tourists, including those with an interest in local history or genealogy, which helps local companies.
Grave reclamation demonstrates attentiveness to the practical and emotional requirements of bereaved families by ensuring that burial infrastructure keeps up with the demands of a diverse and expanding population.
In addition to offering reasonably priced solutions and advancing more general environmental and social objectives, grave reclamation is a sustainable, considerate, and useful solution that aids communities in maintaining green spaces, burial spaces, and cultural legacy.
As long as the memorial is safely created and has been recognized as providing a distinctive heritage value through its architecture or memorial dedication, it plans to leave any existing memorial on the graves undisturbed.
The council plans to remove headstones, tablets, kerbstones, crosses, spar or chippings, and related foundations from other grave plots.
The Croydon Crematorium Office’s Bereavement Services department has all the ideas’ specifics.
Written objections to the proposals must be sent by October 17 and must include a detailed statement of the grounds and the grave number in question.
Contact the Croydon Crematorium Office at Mitcham Road, Croydon CR9 3AT, for additional information.
The full list of grave numbers affected by the proposals are as follows:
S1
S2
S3
S4
15130
2465
6431
10519
1843
875
2835
7916
15588
8077
9281
10578
2165
3603
9904
3095
1046
2744
10445
5001
5530
11323
6512
10119
3408
3026
2751
11141
2968
11423
8543
2858
8921
2142
9831
5341
14439
2785
10510
10189
15909
884
6571
11840
1950
8016
2810
2750
14343
3620
8010
5376
2183
2744
9613
9084
904
11322
10876
11931
6158 &
3026
6692
2677
3133
18994
9237
10986
3109
16187
3749
6739
5574
1888
3453
3554
10071
4998
9471
10891
1910
12155
2243
13978
19185
2949
6873
6851
6051
2486
3601
11333
12290
9717
3021
1581
13689
3007
12981
3483
11371
2431
7968
3090
2535
10301
3230
11842
6073
1497
13411
10876
13815
6692
10880
2967
1326
18994
3026
9872
3383
10071
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What are the benefits of grave reclamation for the Croydon community?
Grave reclamation helps make the most of already-existing cemeteries by reusing old graves that haven’t been utilized in more than 75 years. This helps postpone or prevent the need to create new burial grounds, which can be expensive and require limited land resources.
Reclaiming burials enables cemeteries to stay open without changing their appearance or personality. This benefits locals by preserving graves as serene green areas for introspection.
Reclaimed graves are frequently less expensive than new graves, which helps families afford burial and satisfies the community’s continuous demand for reasonably priced burial space.
The historical and cultural relevance of cemeteries, which frequently house the remains of prominent local leaders and act as archives of community heritage, is preserved through well-managed cemetery reclamation.