Do you want your park turned into a burial ground?

[QuornAgain]

Southwark Council has said it's carrying out a borough-wide public consultation into whether residents want a long term policy that will mean the parks get turned into burial grounds - or not. Understand that a quesionnaire was supposed to be sent to households in the borough. Has anyone had one?

The Council gets a lot of short term income from turning parks into cemeteries. And a huge long term maintenance bill. But it doesn't have to offer land for burial plots at all. It could save the parks. The only duty is to provide cremation.

They've been eating away at Honor Oak Rec since 1991 - the last time they took a chunk they said it would last for 50 years, but they've come back again after just 9 years to take what's left of the park. When they took the last chunk, they were asked if they were thinking about taking other parks, and one of the senior managers said that Peckham Rye could be used.

First they came for Honor Oak Rec....

[donohoe]

some people want a plot not a urn whats wrong with that

[ianr]

The Southwark Consultation is here. I believe I've recently read that the deadline has been extended to 30 September. The forum's Honor Oak Rec threads are here.

[chantelle]

i filled out the petition online against the Honor Oak plan - it was on both Lewisham and Southwark council sites but I never saw it come through the door.

the problem with councils providing burial space is that it means no space then for the living to exercise and enjoy greenery. (outside of cemeteries!)

Look at a map and it's amazing how much space in a very small radius goes to Camberwell Old Cemetery, Camberwell New Cemetery, Nunhead Cemetery, Honor Oak, Ladywell and I'm probably forgetting others. Together they must be larger than all of the parks in the same area.

[alice]

there's a poster outside honor oak station about a meeting didnt get the date - i'll edit tomorrow

[Marmora Man]

But it is worth recalling that the land was originally purchased and planned as a burial ground - it only became a recreation ground for the interim until demand required its use. In some ways an excellent example of long term planning on the part of the council back in the 50s (or perhaps earlier/later?).

[Mick Mac]

Things have changed a bit since the 50s. Councils need to look to the future not the past(or passed).

[Marmora Man]

Mick Mac - sure things have changed - but death remains inevitable and while fewer people are being buried demand remains high and I see no reason why land purchased for that purpose shouldn't be used for that purpose.

Personally I'm going to be burnt with the waste disposed of at sea.