A massive expansion of Knowsley Cemetery could see part of Whiston Woods converted into thousands of new burial plots.
Plans for the £2.6m project are set to be discussed at a meeting of Knowsley Council ’s Cabinet tomorrow, July 13. The expansion would see Knowsley Council spend £600k buying up 20 hectares of Whiston Woods from the Forestry Commission.
Just over a fifth of that land would then be set aside to create an extra 10,000 burial plots for the borough, as well as new infrastructure to allow access to the site, which sits next to the existing Knowsley Cemetery at Fox’s Bank Lane in Whiston. The total cost of creating the cemetery extension, including purchase of the land, would come in at £2.6m according the report.
READ MORE: Officer in serious condition in hospital after police car crash
Knowsley Council has already approved spending half of that sum in 2019 and 2020. Approval is being sought from the cabinet to invest the other half – just over £1.3m – with the money due to come from the sale of other sites in the borough.
The report states the plans are to keep large tracts of Whiston woods open to the public for “recreational purposes” – although the report adds there “would clearly need to be some changes to the day-to-day use of the site.”
Officers added that the development would be subject to consultation by St Helens Council as part of its planning application process before any work could be carried out.
The report adds the land purchase will only be completed if planning permission is granted. The cabinet will meeting tomorrow to decide whether to approve the allocation of £1.3m towards the project.
READ MORE:
Council issues update on new Kirkby station as neighbours complain of loud noise
Building Merseyside’s theatre of dreams in the big Tesco ‘ghost town’
Tragic young man bombarded with 'predatory' gambling offers for weeks after death
Kirkby reverses its fortunes to lead Knowsley’s retail revival
Charity shop where you can 'unburden your troubles' over a cheap cup of tea
