THERE are only 25 places left for the deceased to be buried in Tetbury.

There is room for just one more row of graves in the last burial space in Tetbury at St Saviour’s Church, New Church Street.

The town council has been looking into using a small part of the adjoining land in the recreation and memorial ground for the past seven years but has so far failed to act.

If the land is not turned over residents will have to be buried outside of Tetbury.

Cllr Kevin Painter has been spearheading the campaign to appropriate the land for burials.

He said that the town council had a moral as well as a legal obligation to provide burial space inside the town.

Cllr Painter said: “If you’re from Tetbury, you want to be buried in Tetbury.

“People say the land should be for the living but all of the people buried here have families, it is as much an area for the families as the deceased.”

Tetbury Town Council has been unwilling to use the land until now as there is confusion over who legally owns it.

Originally the Recreation and Memorial Ground was donated by the people of Tetbury in memory of Tetburians who fought in WWI and further land was purchased with a loan from Lloyds Bank.

However, Cllr Painter believes that there is now enough documentation to prove that the council can use the area to extend the graveyard.

In a report, he writes: “In conclusion, if the result of this town meeting and the affidavit was done correctly and in accordance with the wishes of the Town Meeting and subsequently that of the Town Council, this parcel of land should indeed belong to the Town Council and therefore be our decision on what to do with.”

The council is waiting to speak to solicitors before using the land.

The area currently being used for burials was bought in 1978 as residents became concerned about the lack of space.

Brian Kimber, president of the Civic Society and ex-mayor, was one of those who pushed through the extension, he said: “From a Christian’s point of view people prefer to be buried in the vicinity of the church, they find comfort in it.

“There’s only the living to look after the dead and we living have to provide for them.”

Borehole testing has been carried and the land is suitable for interning bodies.