A PUBLIC vote will be held to decide whether or not a burial ground in Tetbury should be extended into a recreational ground.

At a Tetbury Town Council meeting on Monday, September 26, councillors voted to hold a public vote in March after a debate about the burial ground by St Saviour’s Church.

Earlier this year, a study commissioned by Tetbury Town Council found that there was enough space in the burial site for three to four years.

Since last year, the town council had been working with the Dolphins Hall committee to find out who owned a piece of land adjacent to the graveyard in the hope that it could provide additional plots.

Councillors in the meeting said they now had documentational evidence to believe that the town council owned the land being used for recreation.

Cllr Sandra Ball said that the possible extension of the burial ground “is such an emotive subject. We need to make sure that we have the people of Tetbury behind us and fully with us on this.”

Other councillors however suggested that the town council’s ownership of the land meant that a public vote was not necessary.

Deputy mayor Kevin Painter said: “I propose that we do not have public vote because of time scales.” He added that it was impossible to hold a public vote for every town council matter.

Natalie Haines, chief executive of the town council, responded: “I personally think it would be silly to go against the route that we should or were going to take.”

In February, the study commissioned by the town council revealed that there were 35 burial plots left in the church yard.

When the plots run out Tetburians will have to be buried outside the town.

During the town council meeting, councillors also discussed burial fees and the cost of examining the land.

It was agreed that burial fees would be increased from £415 to £460 for Tetbury residents. For non residents, the price would be double the price at £920.