Plans approved to build second mausoleum at Leighton Buzzard's Vandyke Road cemetery
A proposed second mausoleum at Vandyke Road cemetery is needed to meet the demands of residents in Leighton Buzzard.
And on December 1 Leighton-Linslade Town Council agreed to back the plans.
A second 15 chamber mausoleum block would be sited on ‘virgin green space land’ and take the existing chamber capacity from 36 to 51. Costs would be met by deposits already paid and a contribution by the council which would be repaid once all spaces were reserved.
A report by the council’s grounds and environmental services committee states nine people have already paid to reserve a space in a new mausoleum with several deposits taken over five years ago ‘despite there being no certainty around the delivery of a second mausoleum’.
But concerns have been raised over the delay in pushing plans for a second mausoleum forward, and that certainty around a second mausoleum would encourage more residents to commit to the project.
The report states: “Since the completion of the first mausoleum in August 2017, deposits of £22,000 have been taken by the town council for the potential construction of a second mausoleum.
"Presently, nine people have, in good faith, paid to reserve a space in mausoleum. Several deposits were taken over five years ago despite there being no certainty around the delivery of a second mausoleum. Of these, two people have been buried in the ground against the deceased wishes and religious beliefs as they wait for a potential second mausoleum.
“To exhume will have financial implications as well as exhumation complications. To not build another part to our mausoleum would potentially cause huge alarm and distress to parts of our community and raise an issue for a family who have buried two people against their beliefs and wishes.”
The report adds building a second mausoleum would have 'ramifications within the community particularly the Catholic religion' and that the facility would mean the council being able to offer full burial services options.
The report concludes: “Once a second section is built the team can add some of the finishing touches such as an Indian Sandstone floor and more flower beds/benches to make this space within the cemetery a better experience for all those visiting loved ones.”
The council agreed to endorse the plans in principle and recommended the anticipated £55k cost be met from deposits received for a second Mausoleum, £22k of earmarked reserves, £5.2k of mausoleum income and to seek council endorsement to draw down the outstanding balance of £27,800 from general reserve, subject to that balance being returned when the remaining spaces in the new Mausoleum have been purchased.