Plans to create hundreds of new graves at Dorking Cemetery in a bid to solve capacity issues

Dorking Cemetery is set to gain hundreds of extra burial plots - and you can pre-pay for one if plans to clear paths to make way for new graves are approved. Mole Valley District Council's scrutiny committee is recommending clearing the way for an additional 152 plots, with 45 available for pre-purchase in a bid to address pressing capacity issues.

There are also longer term burial and cremation reforms being consulted on by the Law Commission to reuse and reclaiming old graves that are of "particular interest in respect of Dorking cemetery". The papers read: “Currently Dorking cemetery does not benefit from the ability to reuse and reclaim graves, indeed it would require an application for an Act of Parliament for it to do so."

It added that the initial view was that, subject to safeguards such as protections on individual graves and consultations with relatives, expanded use at Dorking would be beneficial. Reusing graves, could potentially provide space for a further 337 double plots. At current rates that would provide enough space for a further 17 years. Until then, and to alleviate the current squeeze, the committee is recommending paths are removed to make extra space within the existing layout.

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Leader of the council, Councillor Stephen Cooksey said: “The council has been concerned over the capacity of Dorking Cemetery for some years, as it appears to be running out of burial space. Various longer term solutions have been considered but in February 2024 the council approved a modest expansion achieved by removing several paths and adding 71 additional plots of which 16 were available for pre-purchase. These works have been completed, there's been no adverse reaction from the public and the pre-purchase arrangements have proved popular."

He said expanding the infill programme would create 152 additional double plots, of which 45 would be available for pre-purchase. He added: “This combined with the increasing choice of ash internments should fulfil local demand for several years.

“Meanwhile a longer-term solution is being sought…one area of reform being considered would allow Dorking Cemetery to reuse the oldest part of the site and reclaim old graves as is allowed in London. It's our intention to continue to provide this service and we would actively consider all options that become available to us.”

The committee heard that the public would still have sufficient access to grave sites even with the reduced network of paths.