Decisions are set to be made later this year about plans to expand Whitby Cemetery.
The current cemetery, which spreads between Larpool Lane and Helredale Road, is incredibly close to capacity and North Yorkshire Council (NYC) has been looking for sites in which to expand the cemetery.
Last month, officers made a request for appropriate capital funding to do the works and a decision is expected when NYC’s Executive meet on September 15.
Although a site has not been confirmed, the playing fields off Larpool Drive have been cited as an option.
Giving an update at a recent meeting of Whitby Town Council, ward councillor Neil Swannick said: “There is some considerable spend being envisaged for cemeteries in Scarborough and Whitby.
“In Whitby that decision is to move forward with an area of land on Larpool Lane. I know you have campaigned against it in the past, but we are short of space and that is the most sensible place to do it.”
The cemetery was built in 1862 and was later extended towards Helredale Road. Already, NYC has said, grave plot spaces are unable to be purchased due to the limited space left and it is estimated the cemetery will be at full capacity within the next two years.
Coun Swannick added: “It is running out of space and by the time some of us come to be buried there, there will be no space.”
An NYC report states: “Expansion of cemetery sites require full planning permission so a comprehensive range of local and statutory consultees must be consulted with.”
This includes residents, ward councillors, the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water.
