New £5.2m cemetery opens amid burial capacity fears

A new £5.2m lawn cemetery has opened on the outskirts of Londonderry amid concerns that Derry City Cemetery is reaching full capacity.

The new 30-acre site on Mullenan Road can provide 3,500 burial plots and includes a "Garden of Angels" for babies and children, 200 plots for the Islamic community, which face Mecca, and an above-ground structure for storing urns.

The new cemetery is expected to provide burial space for up to 20 years, with the possibility of future expansion.

But some people have expressed concerns around the site's accessibility, given its distance from the city centre and limited public transport.

Head of Derry City and Strabane Council's Environment and Building Control department, Conor Canning, said a lot of work has gone into preparing the site for opening to the public.

Speaking to the BBC Radio Foyle Mark Patterson Show, Conor Canning described the official opening of the cemetery as a huge milestone.

"The land was actively farmed up until the point the council bought it, and we have worked very hard to convert this space into a municipal cemetery," Canning said.

"The council were very fortunate to acquire this land.

"I joined the council back in 1989, and even then it was recognised that the City Cemetery would eventually reach capacity - and we are there now.

"There have been extensive searches over the years to identify suitable land, and that process has brought us to this opening day."

Canning said lessons had been learned from previous extensions to the City Cemetery, particularly in relation to layout.

"This is a very flat site compared to the City Cemetery, so it is significantly different, and it has been laid out with parking and access to the public in mind.

"We have disabled parking, disabled access and toilet facilities, so all of that learning from working on the City Cemetery has been incorporated into the design and layout of this new cemetery."

Sinn Féin councillor Patricia Logue said she is aware of some concerns around accessibility to the site for people who may not be able to drive and rely on public transport, given the distance of the cemetery from the city centre.

"It took a long time trying to source a piece of land that was big enough because, as you know, the availability of land within the city or even just the radius of the city centre it's really few and far between," Logue said.

"My party have been working with Translink and with Bus Éireann [in the Republic of Ireland] on this.

"I also know council officers have been working hard to try and establish bus routes that would accommodate people and be able to bring people here freely.

"As yet there is no bus routes that travel to this area, but you know it would have been the same when Derry City Cemetery first opened.

"Hopefully we will see it progress to have those bus links... we will look to the future and try and get the connectivity."

BBC News NI has contacted Translink for comment.

A plaque marking the official opening of the cemetery development was unveiled by the Mayor Ruairí McHugh, who was joined at the event on Tuesday afternoon by Council officers, elected members and project partners.

Streetscape manager John Quinn and civil engineer Gerry Quinn from the council said the site has been specifically designed to prioritise accessibility.

John said the grounds are designed to accommodate high numbers of visitors, with 157 parking spaces, as well as a bus-accessible roundabout.

Bicycle parking is also provided at both the top and bottom of the site.

There are also dedicated buildings for equipment and material storage to help maintain the landscaping.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Ruairí McHugh said the multimillion-pound investment reflects the council's commitment to creating a "peaceful, modern space that meets the needs of the community for decades to come".

"We are delighted to officially open this new facility as the City Cemetery nears full capacity.

"I want to acknowledge the work that has gone into delivering this project, from securing the land to the design and development.

"It has been a challenging process, and I want to thank everyone involved."

Director of environment and regeneration at the council, Karen Phillips, highlighted the strategic importance of the site.

"This investment is a vitally important piece of infrastructure for the city," Phillips said.

"By securing this site and developing high-quality facilities, we are ensuring a smooth transition for families as the City Cemetery reaches capacity."

The chair of the council's environment and regeneration committee, councillor Declan Norris, said the new cemetery was "a crucial capital investment project".

"It provides a modern, peaceful and attractive burial space, ensuring our community's needs are met for the next two decades."

The cemetery is open to the public from 08:00 to 20:00 during the summer months and from 08:00 to 16:30 in winter.