Councillors will be asked to back plans to extend a Rowley Regis cemetery at a meeting next week.
A planning application to create new burial space on part of Powke Lane Open Space was approved back in October last year (2018).
A detailed report was taken to the Safer and Active Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board earlier this year who looked at the issue of the lack of burial space available across Sandwell.
The board recommended that councillors now back the plan to create new burial space, saying it was the best option.
If the proposals – which will mean councillors backing a departure from the local plan to develop the new cemetery – are approved, plans will also be put in place to inform people living nearby about the exact work that will be involved and why more burial space is needed.
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for Inclusive Economic Growth Councillor Bob Lloyd said: “We have thought carefully about extending the cemetery as we are aware that some people locally raised concerns about the loss of the open space.
“The scrutiny board has looked at all of the options as well as the amount of burial space that we have left across the whole of Sandwell.
“Their conclusion was that this is the best solution to a lack of burial spaces. We are running out of burial space in Sandwell and if we don’t act now, then families may in some instances start thinking about burying their loved ones outside the borough.
“It’s important that people living near to the site know that we’re looking at using no more than 30% of the open space for burials, which will still leave the majority of the area open for public use.”
The plan to create new burial space in Powke Lane will be put to councillors at the full council meeting on Tuesday 15 October.
