Monmouth Cemetery will not open any new graves in the next four months, Monmouthshire County Council revealed this week. That means the town has effectively run out of spaces to bury its dead!

Peter Fox, Council Leader explained: "Due to a combination of almost exhausted space for new graves and the prevailing condition of the ground at Monmouth Cemetery, we are very sorry that the cemetery is now closed for opening any new graves. 

"We will review the situation in June, but any new graves available then will still be very limited."

The Cemetery will still be accepting burials in reserved plots and in reopened graves, and for cremated remains.

Councillor Fox said: "We realise that this will be distressing news for Monmouth residents, and so officers are putting together a list of alternative sites for burials and the appropriate contact details. 

"This list does not pretend to be totally inclusive of every option, and your local funeral director or your local vicar if appropriate will be able to give you more up to date information."

Contact details are Chepstow Cemetery - One stop Shop 01600 635700; Caldicot Cemetery - Town clerk 01291 420441; Llanelly Hill, Abergavenny - One Stop Shop 01873 735800; Llanfoist Cemetery Abergavenny - One Stop Shop 01873 735800; Panteg Cemetery Pontypool - 01495 766150; Natural Burial Ground Usk - 0845 45 00165; Usk Cemetery - Town clerk 01291 673011; Coleford - Town Council 01594 832103; Ross - Town Council 01989 562373.

County Council officers say they have been aware of the problems of reduced cemetery space and are making efforts to find alternative sites for use in Monmouth.

It was last December that this paper revealed Monmouth was just months from running out of burial plots to bury its dead,with just twelve burial spaces left in the town's burial ground.

"Within twelve months we will not be able to bury our dead" said the Mayor, Terry Christopher. "Like thousands of other people, I was born in Monmouth and have lived here all my life, and I want to be buried here".

Counc Christopher, told The Beacon on Tuesday that he found the situation "intolerable".

For more on this story, see The Monmouthshire Beacon issue dated Feb 18th.