WORRIED borough councillors have expressed concern about the lack of burial space in Christchurch.

Scrutiny committee councillors heard there are few options to expand facilities at Jumpers Cemetery.

Clive Sinden, open spaces and countryside manager, said: “There is one open cemetery at Jumpers and it’s coming to the end of its life.

“We’ve got an estimated two or three years remaining, although we think we can probably find some extra space by removing some of the infrastructure currently in place.”

Mr Sinden told the committee that space at Jumpers Common was turned down as an option as there is already a lack of open space in the ward.

And land at St Luke’s Church in Burton and Highcliffe St Mark’s was also very restrictive as it is consecrated, which would restrict the burials that took place.

The possibility of sharing burial space with another authority or partner was also put forward.

Mr Sinden added: “We don’t even have to be a burial authority but I can’t imagine Christchurch wanting to go down that road.”

Cllr David Flagg said: “I’m just a little bit concerned about the whole of this item.

“I’d like to put in that this issue goes before the full council to decide whether the council continues with further provision in the borough in light of the cutbacks which are upon us.”

But elderly people’s champion at Christchurch council Cllr Denise Jones said: “I’m not in support of sharing burial space with a partner organisation.

“Sharing some things might be necessary but sharing burial space, no.

“I don’t think it’s very sensitive at this time to say that we’ve got to make cuts and say you can’t be buried in your own borough.

“People who are in their 90s and older will have very strong ideas about how they want to be buried and for us saying we’ve got various cuts to come, I can’t agree with that.”