ADDITIONAL burial space is likely to be found at Christchurch cemetery – but the suspension on purchasing new graves will remain in place for now.

A radar analysis of the cemetery grounds in Jumpers Road has now been completed.

BCP Council now needs to carry out a mapping of the site before it can consider ending the suspension on purchasing burial plots.

Residents have not been able to buy spaces at the site since at least December last year.

At the time the council said there was “historical low availability levels” for new grave spaces at Christchurch cemetery, while the local authority remained committed to honouring plots that had already been pre-purchased.

However, as reported by the Daily Echo, council officers were unsure if some pre-purchased grave spaces had been sold more than once.

This was due to “unreliable” historical cemetery, which needed to be addressed.

Providing an update on the situation around Christchurch cemetery, a BCP Council spokesperson said: “BCP Bereavement Care have now appointed a full time Bereavement Records Officer who is due to start in early June and will be focusing on verifying the burial records for Christchurch cemetery.

Bournemouth Echo: The entrance to Christchurch cemeteryThe entrance to Christchurch cemetery

“In addition to this, the ground penetrating radar has been completed providing a clearer outline of what areas within the cemetery can be utilised to create additional burial space which will now require mapping.

“For the time-being the purchase of new graves remains suspended pending the initial outcome of this work.

“Further updates will be provided to the local funeral director community by BCP Bereavement Care in due course.”

Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope wrote to the council asking for an explanation as to the situation at the cemetery.

He told the Daily Echo concerns had been raised with him by undertakers and residents.

The council came under fire when the initial suspension was introduced after claims it had not given any notice to residents about the halt to burial plot sales.

BCP Council did not provide a timescale for the mapping of the cemetery, adding further information will be released when the local authority is in a clearer position to provide details.

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