Cemetery concerns for Lewes (and St Anne's School open day)

It has long been rumoured that Lewes Cemetery is running out of space but writing in Lewes News, Fran Whittle, the newsletter's co-ordinator seems to confirm that this indeed is the case.

Writing in the latest edition Whittle says that both burial plots and plots for ashes to be stored at the site are close to being full with other vacant space having already been bought by families to safeguard their future for  their burials.

The cemetery, which is adjacent to the 3.5 acres situated by the former St Anne's School in Rotten Row, was established in 1854 and is managed by Lewes District Council.

The future of the St Anne's site is currently under dispute (there is an open day there today – Saturday from 10am to 4pm where people can visit the grounds and discuss there future with council members and protestors who want to save the site from being sold for development).

Whilst members of named STAND (St Anne's Diggers), wish to see allotment sites provided on the fertile grounds and even camped out on the site in order to "draw attention to the special nature of the site and the County Council's stated intention to sell it for development", Whittle says she believes that the grounds "would be ideal as a green burial site and could also be a garden which people could enjoy."

Whilst the wrangles over the future of the cemetery – which when full could see burials making use of Seaford Cemetery – are set to continue, have your say on the future of the site, and in spite of the soggy weather maybe indulge in some gardening there this Saturday.

More on St Anne's, Lewes on lewespeople:

Pictures - St Anne's, Lewes, weeding (July, courtsey of Tab Hunter)

Pictures - Mid- June at St Anne's, Lewes (courtesy of Tab Hunter)