School objects to cemetery proposals

The Diocese of Hallam has applied to Rotherham Council to convert an area of open space near St Gerard’s School in Doncaster Road, Thrybergh, into a cemetery with 2,081 plots.

Based on an average death ratio of 20 deaths per year, the cemetery would have a projected 112-year time span.

The diocese has applied to create the new burial ground as the existing cemetery, behind St Gerard’s church, has reached capacity.

As well as providing somewhere for Catholics to be buried, the new cemetery would also be made available to the “wider community of Dalton and Thrybergh parishes, outside of the Catholic community”.

Just one letter of objection has been received, from the adjacent St Gerards Roman Catholic School, while Thrybergh Parish Council has expressed its support.

In their submission to the council, the school said: “Our main concern is for the health and safety of our children, parents and staff owing to the increased levels of traffic.

“Owing to the current difficulties with congestion at peak times, we currently have to stagger the beginning and end of the school day, as this helps to alleviate the problem.”

They add that funerals should only take place after 9.30am and before 2.30pm during term time, “so that the situation is not exacerbated”.

Town planners have backed the plans, which are set to be considered by councillors at a planning committee meeting on Thursday, October 13.

In the report set to go before that meeting, the planners say the proposed access roads, paths and gravestones at the cemetery would have “only a minimal impact” on the Green Belt and would also “still preserve the general openness of the land overall”.