Nuneaton will not see any parks converted into burial grounds to address the urgent need for additional cemetery space. This was the conclusion reached by the ruling cabinet at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. Opposition has been mounting among residents regarding suggestions that a portion of Attleborough Recreation ground could serve to expand Attleborough cemetery to tackle the pressing shortage of burial space in the town. This is not a fresh concept; an comparable scheme was initially proposed in 2014 but subsequently abandoned following significant public opposition. During Tuesday’s cabinet gathering, members once again rejected the proposal after several alternative approaches were presented in an effort to secure additional space enabling residents to inter their departed relatives in Nuneaton. Among the alternatives examined were establishing burial facilities on land at Park Lane, halting proposals for a town-wide cemetery at Marston Lane, and investigating the conversion of chapels at Attleborough, Bucks Hill and Oaston Road cemeteries into burial vaults. Addressing the fresh recommendations, council leader councillor Steve Hey stated that extensive deliberations had taken place among all cabinet members alongside relevant officers, with the decision not being a sudden one but rather the outcome of extended consultations. He expressed satisfaction that the cabinet had confirmed it would not support and was reinforcing current policy against utilizing recreational land for cemetery purposes. He noted considerable concern had been voiced through social media regarding the proposal to extend Attleborough Cemetery into Attleborough Recreation Ground, emphasising that this had never constituted policy previously and remained so now. Cllr Michele Kondakor remarked that achieving the right balance consistently presented challenges, expressing agreement that parkland should under no circumstances be allocated for burials and that recreational space could not be afforded to be lost. She indicated a need to examine the matter more closely but overall considered it a reasonable approach, noting that while fewer individuals were selecting burial options, demand persisted. Cllr Chris Watkins, deputy leader, endorsed the fresh recommendations, stating these had not been hastily assembled but resulted from considerable deliberation. He asserted the council’s position that recreational areas should not be utilized for cemetery purposes anywhere, that priority must be given to caring for the living with recreational spaces designated for exercise and similar purposes, and that green spaces would be safeguarded wherever possible. The specific measures approved included investigating utilisation of the upper section of the Garden of Remembrance at Bucks Hill cemetery for lawn burials, completely filling existing lawn burial sections across Bucks Hill cemetery rather than partially, clearing the compound at Bucks Hill cemetery and examining requirements for the existing three-metre access road running through newly identified land, subject to cost implications, removing shrubs and trees to the right of the chapel at Bucks Hill cemetery, allocating one hundred thousand pounds to conduct feasibility studies and surveys on identified land at Park Lane to determine suitability as a long-term burial ground for Nuneaton, confirming that no recreational ground including Attleborough would be designated as future cemetery space, taking no further action regarding adjoining land not owned by the borough council at Marston Lane in Bedworth due to financial considerations, and exploring potential conversion of chapels at Attleborough, Bucks Hill and Oaston Road cemeteries into burial vaults. Cabinet members approved the recommendations, which will now proceed to full council for consideration at its meeting on Wednesday, April 29. Steve Hey is standing as the Labour contender for the Attleborough ward in the upcoming local elections. The opposing candidates are Mike Bannister representing Reform UK, Tess Brookes for the Green Party and Vijay Rughoo for the Conservative Party.