Keighley News
730 sign cemetery lodge sale petition
8:20am Sunday 5th February 2012
More than 730 people signed a petition opposing plans to sell a lodge used as offices at Utley Cemetery.
The petition, launched by Keighley community stalwart Charlie Bhowmick, has been handed over to Bradford Council.
“I am delighted with the support shown – it demonstrates the strength of feeling against this proposal,” he said.
Mr Bhowmick said it was feared that if the lodge was shut – and staff moved to the Keighley Library building, as campaigners suspect – it could lead to an increase in vandalism at the cemetery.
And he added that people visiting graves wanted to have staff available to talk to at the site.
Mr Bhowmick presented the petition to the Council’s bereavement and amenity manager, John Scholefield.
Last year it was revealed that cemetery lodges were among buildings being earmarked for possible sale by the Council to save money.
But the authority said this week that no final decision had been made regarding the Utley lodge, although staff would be relocated.
Barra Mac Ruairi, strategic director for regeneration and culture, said: “The office staff at the lodge will relocate in March, but the number of staff available in the cemetery itself will not be reduced. Uniformed patrols will continue and staff will be present preparing for – and during – burial services.
“We will carefully consider the petition and any other submissions when taking the final decision about the cemetery.”