MINEHEAD Town Council is looking at options for a new cemetery as concerns grow that the current one will be full up in the coming years.

The matter was discussed at Minehead Town Council’s Amenities and Environment Committee on Thursday, October 11.

Cllr Roger Thomas raised the issue, saying finding new land for a cemetery would be one of the council’s priorities going forwards.

“We do have a problem with a lack of land for cemeteries,” Cllr Thomas said.

“The existing cemetery will be full in the coming years and it is not easy to expand there.”

Cllr Thomas said the town council should explore the option of earmarking land and trying to obtain Section 106 money from the 700 homes planned for Hopcott.

“There are 700 homes planned there and that could mean around 1,500 people.

“Many of the new residents who move there are likely to be of retirement age and may well want to have a cemetery space in the years ahead.

“There are not many easy options, we may need to purchase agricultural land and that will not come cheap.”

The committee has also formulated new charges for the cemetery which will come into effect from April 1 if approved by full council.

Cllr Thomas added: “We have not updated the charges for some time so this is a matter of bringing our policy in line with the national picture.”

At the meeting members also discussed upcoming plans for Christmas, and confirmed Christmas trees had been ordered for Wellington Square and the Old Hospital.

The committee agreed to set aside £1,000 for new cabling for Christmas lights along Friday Street, which acting town clerk Bryan Howe said may seem a lot for an initial outlay, but would be something the council could use for the next 10 years.

Chairman of the committee Cllr Andy Kingston-James said: “Last year the council took a lot of flack for the Christmas lights; it is our remit so lets have them remembered for being brilliant again, not for being rubbish.”