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Milltown grave plots to cost £3,000
Friday, 21 November 2008
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The Catholic Church today defended its decision to charge thousands of pounds for new burial plots at a west Belfast cemetery saying the hefty price tag included maintenance.
Yesterday it emerged Milltown Cemetery was selling its 1,300 new plots for as much as £3,000 each, which is expected to generate around £3.9m in revenue.
Currently Roselawn Cemetery — the only cemetery owned by Belfast City Council which has spaces left — charges Belfast residents up to £823 for buying a grave.
Father John McManus explained the high price was justified because Milltown was private and did not receive any subsidies from Belfast City Council, whereas Roselawn Cemetery does.
Belfast ratepayers who choose to be buried at Roselawn receive a subsidised price because the council factors in their rates.
If someone from Castlereagh wants to buy a plot they can expect to pay up to £1,795. Anyone who lives outside of Belfast and Castlereagh can expect to pay up to £2437 for a plot.
Fr McManus said the trustees had no other choice but to charge their prices because of the high cost involved in maintaining the grounds.
He said legislation was in place which prevented local councils from “aiding” private cemeteries leaving the upkeep down to its trustees.
Over the past few years there have been concerns over a shortage of burial plots in Belfast after it was identified that there was limited space available able |at both Milltown and Roselawn cemeteries.
Both the City and Dundonald cemeteries are both full and there is just over 700 plots currently marked out for immediate use at Roselawn.
A Belfast City Council spokeswoman said an additional 12 acres of land at the Roselawn was to be marked out early next year, which would provide up to 4,000 new grave plots.
“A further 28 acres of land has been purchased by the council and it is expected that this will extend the lifespan of Roselawn Cemetery by another 15 to 20 years,” she added.
She said the council had identified two sites — Nutts Corner and Lisleen — as possible suitable sites for a new cemetery.
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We had a recent family burial in Milltown.
The state of Milltown is a disgrace.
I will be doing all I can to change the state of things and hopefully the powers that be will speak out, stand out, and openly take responsibility for the appalling lack of respect shown for our dead.
Perhaps we all need to join those protesting about the babies burial plot which has been sold to the Wildlife Trust.
I'm sure the bishops would not like their loved ones to be buried amidst the awful state of Milltown.
Posted by K | 01.12.08, 12:04 GMT
Shame on the C.C.
Appalled and repugnant.
No wonder the purportedly (Christian) C.C. are losing their followers.
My father used to tell me a story, which I never fully understood. It goes like this: "Son when money talks, EVEN the angels stop to listen".
3K for a grave?
Shame on You.
Catholic no more.
C. Church watch out. There will be a referendum.
You're past tenure in N.I. is now defunct.
Regards
MR McAwinney.
Posted by John | 21.11.08, 18:08 GMT
The cheek to say that it "includes maintenance".
What Maintenance?
I visit my family graves on a regular basis and if it was not for me and my family the ground surrounding our family graves would be similar to the many many others in the vicinity - overgrown but worde:
One new grave in particular, at a corner, where a vehicle has run over the edge of the grave and sank up to its acle. The lorry was removed but the grave was never repaired!
Come on Lisbreen, Somerton Road. Do something about this please.
Posted by trevorros | 21.11.08, 13:36 GMT