Larne’s main cemetery at capacity in five years, council told

Two hundred and fifty plots remain at Larne’s main cemetery in Craigyhill, it was confirmed at a meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Direct Services Committee on Tuesday evening.
Greenland Cemetery LarneGreenland Cemetery Larne
Greenland Cemetery Larne

The council’s director of Operations Philip Thompson told members that the Greenland graveyard at Upper Cairncastle Road will reach capacity in approximately five years.

As a result, a site for a new cemetery has been earmarked by the council at Old Glenarm Road, outside Larne, on the right side of the road towards Ballygally.

Mr Thompson indicated that plans for the new cemetery  were “making good progress” with planning permission expected by early next year.

Currently, the council is seeking tenders for a design team.

Previously, a site at Brustin Brae Road in Larne had been under consideration. The plan was shelved in 2015 after a number of issues were investigated following a groundwater survey at the proposed location (read here).

When this site was first proposed in 2008, residents signed a petition of objection over concerns regarding poor roads infrastructure, parking, public safety, litter, pollution and privacy which was presented to the legacy Larne Borough Council.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has stated that the new out of town location, if approved, would provide a “lifespan” of 60 to 80 years.

It would accommodate between 4,000 and 6,000 plots.

The council declined to reveal the cost of the land purchase saying it was “commercially sensitive”.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

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