Work to Begin on New Cemetery

Rochdale Borough Council is set to begin work to create a cemetery in the southern part of Denehurst Park.

Construction on the project to create a 2,000 burial plot cemetery in a 2.6 hectare section of the park will begin on 17 February and continue for around seven months, subject to ground and weather conditions.

Rochdale Borough Council will also invest over £300,000 to carry out improvements to the remainder of the park in consultation with the public.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Cabinet Member for Place and Regulation, said: “The new cemetery will provide much needed new burial space within the Rochdale Township and at the same time we will invest in the remainder of the park to improve it and bring it back to a high standard for local people to enjoy.”

During the works the whole of the construction area will be fenced off to prevent access and allow the works to proceed safely. During this period it will not be possible to enter the park from the rear of houses on Denehurst Road or alongside 161 Sandy Lane. Instead, a temporary entrance pathway will be created at the corner of Sandy Lane/Willbutts Lane. The public footpath along the outer edge of the park, from Lynwood Drive leading to Oulder Hill Community School and the main entrance to the park off Edenfield Road, are unaffected by the works and will remain open.

Following a visioning day held at the park on 5 October 2013 and month-long consultation a number of local people have come forward to form a `Friends of Denehurst Park’ group to work with the council developing and improving the park.

If you would like to know more about the work of the Friends’ group or get involved please contact Ian Trickett, Parks and Open Spaces Development Manager, at ian.trickett@rochdale.gov.uk or call 01706 922073.