Have your say on plans for Larne’s new cemetery

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is urging the public to take part in a consultation on plans for a new £2.7 million cemetery in Larne.

The planning application is due to be submitted this spring and the public are being asked to feed in to the decision making process.

The proposed site is located on the Old Glenarm Road adjacent to Carnfunnock Country Park and could see up to 6000 plots.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Peter Johnston said: “The current cemetery in Larne has a projected life span of four years left and it is critical that the local community have access to a new cemetery.

“The consultation will be available on our council website and we’ve also uploaded plans so that everyone can see them to feed back on. We’ve been working with Larne Ministers Club to progress the plans and hopefully will be on track, following surveys and this important public consultation, to progress the project.”

Rev John Nelson is secretary for Larne Ministers Club: “This has been an ongoing issue in the area, and hopefully now we can get the process started to provide adequate cemetery provision for residents. Clergy are aware of just how important this is for local people. The current facilities will soon be at capacity and with death rates as they are, new plots are badly needed.

“We would encourage everyone to have their say and take part in this consultation.”

The new facility will meet burial requirements for the next 80 years while the town’s main cemetery in Craigyhill is expected to reach capacity in four years with 250 plots remaining.

There will be an online public webinar on 25 March 2021 at 6:30pm and you can register online at W: www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/LarneCemeteryConsultation

The consultation runs from 25 February 2021 to 17 May 2021.