Epsom Cemetery about to run out of space as council hunts for more land to bury dead

Since it was set up in the 1870s more than 29,500 people have been buried at Epsom Cemetery in Ashley Road. But now there are estimated to be just 450 lawn grave spaces left.

With around 170 people buried there each year that is only enough for a few more years - and half of the plots are now bought by people outside the borough - a trend likely to increase as Epsom Council, which charges non residents more, has started marketing it to funeral directors in neighbouring boroughs.

Epsom Council described the numbers as "sufficient" for a few years, and said most spaces are used for more than one family member, but it said it is also trying to find an extra 2,000 burial spaces for the next 20 to 25 years.

The situation is made more difficult because many local churches have already run out of space.

Steve Lapper, general manager at funeral director W A Truelove and Son in Sutton, said graves cannot be bought in churchyards and these plots are generally reserved for parishioners.

Mr Lapper said: "Epsom Cemetery had an extension not so long ago. That’s the only cemetery that serves the borough. If Epsom are saying there are only 450 spaces left, it’s only a matter of time."

Steve Lapper with Jo Cox and Thomas Lemin at Trulove and Son in Epsom

Reverend Des Williamson, vicar of St Mark’s in Great Tattenhams, said his church does not have a churchyard so they use Epsom Cemetery if that’s what the family want.

Mr Williamson said: "A lot of churches are getting to the stage that they do not have enough space. A lot of churchyards graveyards are closed, which means there’s no room for anyone else."

St Mary’s in Ewell plans to allow schoolchildren to play sport on a church meadow for a temporary period before it is eventually turned into a graveyard.

Archaeological dig at the church meadow at St Mary's in Ewell

August: School wants to play sport on archaeological site owned by church in Ewell

Its vicar, Rev Russell Dewhurst, said: "We have a lot of land which can be used as churchyard, so there is no limit in sight.

"Anyone who lives in a parish has, when they die, the legal right to be buried in that parish church’s burial ground.

"In addition, those who live outside the parish but are on the church’s electoral roll (equivalent to our membership list) have the same rights as parishioners."

Christ Church, Epsom Common, does not have burial plots and a spokeswoman there said people tend to be buried at Epsom Cemetery or privately-run Randall's Park Crematorium in Leatherhead.

A council spokesman said he does not have information on the amount plots available at churchyards or future plans for these areas.

He said: "The council is satisfied that there is sufficient burial space for the next few years within Epsom Cemetery.

"We would be failing if we didn’t have plans for after this period, however, I am unable to expand on this further as this is an area of commercial confidentiality."

At Epsom Cemetery, the interment fee for a grave, dug 5ft to 7ft, recently increased by 14 per cent from £740 to £840. For outsiders, the cost rose by 6 per cent from £1,653 to £1,753.

Mr Lapper, from Truelove, said it costs more to be buried in another borough because the deceased has not funded cemetery upkeep though council taxes and space is kept for residents there.

He said: "It’s difficult to explain to someone who may live on the borders of Reigate and Banstead, but in the close vicinity of Epsom and Ewell."

In 2011/12, people from outside Epsom bought 34 per cent of graves and interments, but their share increased to almost half of purchases in 2013/14.

A council paper for a meeting on cemetery fees earlier this year said: "In an effort to maintain cemetery income officers have marketed the service outside the borough."

When asked about this strategy, a council spokesman said: "The ‘marketing’ that took place was to funeral directors on or just outside the borough boundary and is the same as we provide for the funeral directors within the borough."

The shortage of land available for burial is particularly severe in London and Bandon Hill Cemetery in Wallington ran out of grave plots about 20 years ago.

Since then local authorities have reclaimed the rights to very old graves, where there was room for more people, and reused the empty space.

Last year a planning application for a cemetery on the outskirts of Banstead was withdrawn following outcry from residents.

But a spokesman at Randall's Park Crematorium said it has 4,000 to 5,000 burial spaces and further land that could also be used if required. There is no extra cost for people outside Leatherhead.

In 2013 a BBC survey suggested that almost half of England's cemeteries could run out of space within 20 years.