MONMOUTH cemetery may get a new lease of life following a “very positive meeting” between town councillors and environmental officers from Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) in August.

Speaking at Monday night’s (14th September) Monmouth Town Council meeting, Councillor Terry Christopher said that it could now be possible to fund excavation of trial holes within the grounds so that burials can restart.

Discussions were held some months ago following the failure at the proposed replacement cemetery site at Penallt to pass bore hole inspections.

In February, the Beacon reported that burials could be available in Monmouth again if county councillors agree to hand over control of the cemetery to the town council.

Having been told by MCC almost a decade ago that there is no more space at the town cemetery for burials, town councillors had identified an area within the plot which they believe is suitable for 143 graves.

MCC officers were criticised for failing to follow up after a proposed site at Penallt proved unsuitable.

Following a confidential 2012 Capita Symonds report, MCC concluded there was no plan to excavate any further plots in the cemetery as it was claimed not to be cost effective.

Councillors claimed that MCC spent around £80,000 over a five-year period on a feasibility study at the Penallt site, only to discover that it was not suitable for burials.

One of the reasons they believe the Penallt site failed was that today’s rules

and regulations are very strict in opening new cemetery sites.

These regulations do not apply to existing sites and town councillors believe this is the way forward.