Works for new cemetery at crematorium to get underway

Works to create a new cemetery will get underway today. Once complete, the new Rainsbrook Cemetery in Rugby will include 3,500 grave plots.

It is being built on the site of Rainsbrook Crematorium and the works will start today (May 13) and are set to last until September. Rugby Borough Council has warned that during the works, visitors will face restricted access to the site.

But access to the rest of the crematorium grounds and Diamond Wood will remain open. The council says the new cemetery has been part of a long-term plan for the crematorium site.

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While the crematorium opened a decade ago, the council said it decided to postpone work on the cemetery until the council's cemeteries at Clifton Road, Croop Hill, Watts Lane and Whinfield were nearer to full capacity.

Conuncillor Derek Poole, cabinet member for regulation and safety at the council, explained: "A new cemetery for the borough was always part of our plans for the Rainsbrook site and by working with O'Brien Contractors Limited to deliver the project, we have partnered with a company which has considerable experience of building new cemeteries.

"We aim to minimise the disruption to visitors to the crematorium grounds and Diamond Wood during the site works, but appreciate everyone's patience and understanding while we build a new cemetery to serve the borough for the future."

The council has sole responsibility for the operation of Rainsbrook Cemetery, and owns all burial plots.

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