Petition urges action on burial space shortage

A petition backed by 7,000 people has called on Sheffield City Council to put right “a dire situation” over the lack of burial spaces in city cemeteries.

The petition was launched on behalf of the South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust by campaigner Mahmood Hussain.

It calls for immediate action to provide “affordable and appropriate new burial space/provision in Sheffield, for all communities, and particularly for the Muslim community, within the next 24 months”.

Sheffield City Council said it would debate the issue during a meeting on 4 December.

The petition says the council leadership had been aware of the shortage of spaces for almost two years and that “at the then-current rate of usage, only five years of supply remained within the city”.

It adds: “There are still no actual concrete plans in place from Sheffield City Council to develop any appropriate burial sites to alleviate this long-standing and pressing issue.”

In total, there are 16 council-run cemeteries in the city. There are Muslim areas in Shiregreen, City Road and Abbey Lane cemeteries.

The council launched a review of burial sites in January, when it was estimated that there were only enough burial spaces to last for the next five years, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Tinsley Park Cemetery has already closed to new burials.

The petition is endorsed by the Council of Mosques South Yorkshire, United Mosques Council of Sheffield, Federation of Mosques Sheffield and the South Yorkshire Muslim Bereavement Trust.

The issue is of particular concern as Muslims bury their dead and burials must take place as soon as possible.

Campaigners have also voiced concerns about problems with the flooding of Muslim graves at Shiregreen Cemetery.

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