Failsworth Cemetery PDF 74 KB

Economy Places and Skills
Parks and Street Scene
June 2011
Briefing Note
for the Failsworth and Hollinwood District Partnership
To consider the infrastructure improvements and possible
extension of Failsworth Cemetery
1 BACKGROUND
1.1 The Parks and Countryside service was approached by the District Partnership
to prepare a master plan for Failsworth cemetery and a proposed extension to
burial land. The service engaged a Consultant to prepare an interim report and
master plan for the site. The report looked at a number of areas:
• Enhance, repair and secure the public right of way that runs between the
Jewish Cemetery and Failsworth Cemetery;
• extend the capacity of the existing cemetery;
• introduce and develop alternative burial / memorial options;
• generate income which can be used to support repairs and improvements
to the formal cemetery;
• provide high-quality local open space of naturalistic character.
1.2 Consultation has taken place with local residents on the master plan for
Failsworth Cemetery during a site visit on 15 February 2010 organised by the
District Partnership. However, the plans which have generally been well
received are largely aspirational and currently have no funding.
1.3 The preparation for the master plan and consultation is the first stage of any bid
for external funding and many of the proposals particularly relating to
improvements on the existing infrastructure and remodelling of areas could be
achieved with a combination of external and internal funding (eg S106, DP
funding).
1.4 The public right of way is in urgent need of enhancement and repair with
leaning walls and a broken drain, which creates flooding during inclement
weather. Note appendix 1 for further information on public right of way.
1.5 Currently approximately 10 new graves are requested per year and Failsworth
has approximately 6 years of burial space remaining and areas around the

Economy Places and Skills
Parks and Street Scene
June 2011
cemetery that can be utilised at little expense. The Council should take into
account that Hollinwood Cemetery, less than 1 mile from Failsworth Cemetery,
has accommodation for burials for the next 100 years.
1.5 Natural burial in Oldham should be considered and Failsworth Cemetery
extension has the capacity to provide a Woodland burial area.
2 RECOMMENDATION
2.1 A working group is established to consider the implications and costs of the
Master plan consisting of:
• Failsworth Elected Members
• Neighbourhood Manager – John Norris
• Cemetery Officer – Jayne Murphy
• Parks and Street scene Development Officer – Euey Madden
• Area Manager – Steve Henthorn
• Member of the public
2.2 Immediate improvements are carried out to the public right of way:
• Graffiti removal
• Remove vulnerable areas of the wall.
• Monitor the condition on a weekly basis

Economy Places and Skills
Parks and Street Scene
June 2011

Economy Places and Skills
Parks and Street Scene
June 2011
Appendix 1 Failsworth Cemetery
As part of the master planning exercise for the cemetery issues have been raised regarding the use of the public right of way which runs
adjacent to the site. These include anti social behaviour and the maintenance of a water course running adjacent to the path. The
following table identifies the options for improvement/diversion/closure of the path.
Options Legislation Issue Risk of
objection
/ failure
Improve PRoW on current line None Possible continuation of anti social behaviour. Improvements should seek Zero
Keep PRoW but gate
overnight
Incorporate land into
cemetery – stop up PRoW
Divert the PRoW through the
cemetery
S129b Highways
Act 1980 Gating
Order
S116 Highways
Act
S257 Town &
Country Planning
Act
S119 Highways
Act 1980
design this out.
Possible continuation of anti social behaviour when open. Should address
problems when gated. Possibly locked by First Response security.
No powers within the Act for closure for anti social behaviour and the
alternative route is longer (around 1 mile) and less commodious for users.
Likely to be objections and result in public inquiry with limited chance of
success. The Highways Authority could not apply as the PRoW is still
required for public use therefore cannot be extinguished.
The land could be incorporated into cemetery redevelopment. However the
cemetery redevelopment must require this land for the redevelopment, this
does not include improvements for landscaping etc.
Possible objections and cost (£1,200). Does the cemetery manager want a
right of way through the cemetery? Better to keep the right of way separate?
Cemetery Manager comments: Yes keep separate anti social behaviour
could affect memorials and graves if not kept separate.
If there is potential to improve the setting of the footpath then this would be the most favourable outcome as the line of the path would be
retained, diversion is also possible but would move the path to run through the cemetery. This may not be conducive to the use of the
cemetery. To close the public footpath would be onerous and have very limited scope for success. It would be preferable to gate the
path to minimise the instance of anti social behaviour.
Medium
High
High
Medium

Economy Places and Skills
Parks and Street Scene
June 2011