THERE is currently “adequate” space for burials in Merthyr Tydfil’s cemeteries, a report has said.
The report to the council’s neighbourhood services, countryside and planning scrutiny committee shows that in 2024-25 the bereavement services carried out 160 burials and 134 ashes internments.
The burial policy which has been approved by full council allows the service to open existing graves with the following criteria: re-used graves containing one burial, unpurchased, with no memorial and over 70 years old.
Based on this policy, and the existing new graves at Graig Fargoed in Bedlinog, it is estimated that currently there is adequate provision for burials across the county borough.
The burial capacity of the five cemeteries in the county borough is regularly reviewed to ensure continuity of burials, the report said.
Cefn Coed cemetery currently has 3,944 remaining available plots based on existing grave re-use with a current average annual demand of 24 and the estimated number of years remaining based on this average year demand being 164 years.
Pant cemetery has 1,189 remaining available plots, enough to last 50 years, Aberfan has 949 plots, enough for 316 years, Beech Grove, Edwardsville, has 433, enough for 62 years, and Graig Fargoed cemetery has 115 plots, enough for 14 years.
But the report added that not all re-used graves could be considered suitable for burials and this could be due to individuals’ preference in not wanting to share an existing grave or logistical difficulties when excavating an existing grave so new burial space would be required to accommodate this.
Pant cemetery has a new garden of remembrance and so far 20 cremated remains have been buried in the area with a further 199 plots available, allowing around 10 more years of interments.
The council has purchased the field next to Pontycapel cemetery in the Ffrwd section of Cefn Coed cemetery.
Works have been carried out to make the land usable for burials and works have been done to install concrete plinths on 50% of the land to allow the placement of memorials.
Following the treatment of weeds on this area, burials will be able to take place.
The report said more capital funding would be needed to complete works on the remaining area of land and undertake structural work to the entrance wall and to potentially create a children’s burial area and a garden of rest area. It is estimated that the new site will provide a further 734 new burial plots.
The council’s estates section is in negotiations with the landowners to purchase the Bryniau Field that lies near Pant cemetery and it is hoped that the purchase of the land will be completed during this financial year.
