Row over woodlands burial ground plan intensifies

A row over plans to convert woods into a cemetery has intensified as the final decision draws closer.

Knowsley Council first announced plans to buy part of Whiston Woods and turn it into a cemetery in 2023, as the burial space was running out in the borough.

But since it applied to neighbouring St Helen's Council for permission, campaign group Save Whiston Woods ha raised more than 1,000 signatures petition signatures or objections.

It wants the council to use land near its existing cemetery, but the council said that land had never been designated for burial use.

The Whiston plans could cost £2.6m, including £700,000 to buy the land, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has previously revealed.

A Knowsley Council meeting on 18 March presented a report which said burial spaces in cemeteries in the borough are running out with plots estimated to reach capacity within the next two years.

The report also confirmed the authority had conducted extensive research on alternative sites but said they are unsuitable due to several factors, including limited space, land quality issues and being too close to residential properties.

Sue Parry who set up Save Whiston Woods said it "made me really emotional, because I thought they've got rid of so much green space already".

She said: "[The council] want to come across on to Whiston Woods in St Helens, buy land and pay an awful lot of money to to create another form of cemetery here."

Knowsley Council responded to the group's suggestion the land adjoining Knowsley Cemetery should be used to develop more capacity.

A spokesperson said: "The land next to the current cemetery has never been previously designated as cemetery land.

"Planning permission was only given for the initial phase of the cemetery. The permission specifically excluded the land in the application that had been suggested for potential expansion."

The campaigners, who have held protests, submitted a petition with 790 signatures to St Helens Council on 24 March, and collected 412 objections letters, which they sent to the same authority three days later.

The petition states: "We need to save Whiston Woods for our community, the wildlife, the environment and our children and future generations.

"We demand the woods are protected for all to use and that Knowsley Council explore other options for cemetery space if it's needed."

Rainhill Parish Council has also objected to the plan.

A Knowsley Council spokesperson said: "The expansion of the current site into Whiston Woods is the preferred option given its proximity to the existing cemetery and the ground conditions being suitable for this use."

"The proposal includes using 4.4 hectares of the site (less than a quarter of the site) as an extension to the current Knowsley Cemetery.

"The remainder of the Whiston Woods site would remain as community woodland with investment made to support access into the site."

A final decision is yet to be made.

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