CAMBERWELL OLD CEMETERY WORKS BEGIN
Works to prepare Camberwell Old Cemetery for potential new burial space began on Monday (January 25th).
The preparatory works, which fall outside the remit of the Diocese of Southwark, are in line with planning permission granted last year and have been viewed by the Diocese and London Wildlife Trust before works began, said a council spokesperson.
“A decision on whether the council can pursue plans for burial expansion will be decided by the Diocese in the coming months.
“Until then, the council is permitted to carry out the following:
remove scrub
fell 10 trees (mainly located in the contaminated area of the cemetery)
install hoarding and secure the site
carry out site investigations of the contaminated land
install new railings , replacing a dilapidated wooden fence
improve the biodiversity and nature conservation of the area through the planting of native flora
Southwark’s cabinet member for environment and public realm Cllr Darren Merrill said: “I’m pleased that preparatory works to Camberwell Old Cemetery have now begun.
“While we are still awaiting confirmation from the Diocese about our plans for burial space expansion, we need to get the site ready to avoid future delays which could see the borough run out of burial spaces.
“The cemetery will operate as normal while the work is carried out and we’ll be doing our best to limit any disruption to those wishing to pay their respects to their loved ones.”
Southwark say their plans for burial space expansion (subject to official approval from the Diocese) are to:
bring an ‘out of bounds’ area back into public use
create 700 burial spaces
increase the ecological value and biodiversity of the area, including the planting of 60 new trees
For information about the plans for Camberwell Old and New Cemetery please visit: www.southwark.gov.uk/cemeteriesplans (Source: Southwark council press release)
