Extra burial spaces at Bilston Cemetery to be created
Around 160 burial spaces will be created under plans to extend a cemetery, it has been revealed.
Bilston Cemetery, which has reached capacity, is expected to undergo the development next year.
It comes after fears were sparked over a lack of space in the city – with four out of seven graveyards already hitting capacity.
But now Wolverhampton Council is set to act in a bid to tackle the issue, with officers drawing up proposals.
A spokeswoman for the authority said: "The city council is looking at creating additional burial space within Bilston Cemetery.
"Officers are currently in the process of drawing up suitable plans for the area in question and work is expected to commence on-site in 2020.”
Garages adjacent to the cemetery, a site for anti-social behaviour, are expected to be torn down under the plans.
The move has been praised by councillors in the area, who say it will be a "positive" thing for residents.
Councillor Olivia Birch, who represents Bilston North, said: "It's a good thing – it's been full for a number of years now and for local people it's a great thing.
"If you are local and if you have got ties with the area and have loved ones buried there, it's a good thing.
"If we can get those additional spaces it would be a positive thing for Bilston."
Councillor Linda Leach, who also represents the area, added: "I think it's quite positive. They are using the garages adjacent to the cemetery, which has caused us quite a lot of anti-social behaviour.
"I think, all in all, that will be a good thing and having the additional space will be absolutely fantastic.
"There's no space left and people living there, they would want to bury their loved ones there.
"I think it's brilliant."
A total of 200 new burial spaces are needed each year in the city, a briefing report to council chiefs said.
It warned consideration needed to be given to the sustainability of the service, with space reducing year on year.
Proposals to council bosses included buying privately-owned ground next to Penn Cemetery and similar space next to Danescourt Cemetery, along with the Bilston Cemetery extension.
