Onchan MHK, Rob Callister, asked Ray Harmer, the Minister for Infrastructure, what his Department has done to help St. Peter’s Church in Onchan find a new cemetery as a matter of urgency?
In his response Mr Harmer confirmed that the Department is aware that St Peter’s Church is seeking land for burial purposes. "I should at the outset make it clear that in law the church is not the same body as the Onchan Burial Ground Authority.
"The Department has been asked to consider releasing land within its ownership for burial purposes. While the Department does own land adjacent to Onchan, this is currently viewed as a strategic land holding to be retained for possible future use by Government to meet the wider social and economic needs of the community, which could be health or for the elderly. As such the land identified will not be made available for burial land.
"The Department has encouraged representatives of St Peter’s to discuss their requirements with a local estate agent and also with Onchan Commissioners who may be able to assist the search for an appropriate site. The Government does not have any other unused land in Onchan but should any sites become available in future, full consideration will be given to their future use for burial purposes.
"In addition, the public consultation currently underway in respect of the Area Plan for the East provides the opportunity to highlight the implications of not being able to provide burial land in Onchan in the future. I understand the consultation for this stage of plan preparation is open until 21st April 2017.
"Under the Burial Act 1986, the Burial Authority has the power to obtain land for burial purposes, including by compulsory purchase. The Onchan Burial Ground Authority currently has ?93,000 in General Reserves and has advised that it is setting aside ?250,000 for the purchase of additional land by transferring ?2000 per month to the Reserve Account. It is therefore in a position to obtain suitable land and does not depend upon the Department of Infrastructure for new land. In fact, the only Department that is involved in the provision of new land for burials is the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.
"Whilst this Department has been happy to advise the Burial Authority on finding land, its duties under the Burial Act 1986 relate to the supervision of financial matters. That Act places a clear duty on the Authority to maintain burial grounds and gives clear powers to the Authority to purchase land for new or additional burial grounds. I must advise the Honourable Member that whilst I understand his wish to help his local church, it is clear that the Burial Authority can resolve this issue within the existing legislation.
