Greens Find Solution to South Bristol Cemetery Expansion

The new Public Health and Communities Committee have unanimously passed a Green-amended motion to the South Bristol Cemetery expansion plan.

The amendment on option two in the papers, put forward by Cllr Malik, focuses on limiting the cemetery’s expansion to the areas where it can proceed without disturbing the sensitive ecology of the Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) at Colliters Brook.

It also sets out plans to explore alternative drainage solutions that would avoid any unnecessary intrusion into the SNCI, ensuring that no final decisions are made without a full assessment of potential environmental impacts.

In discussion on the amendment, the Chair of the meeting, Liberal Democrat Stephen Williams, verbally confirmed that he will be consulting with all committee members when this information is available to take this forward.

Cllr Malik, said: “Myself and my fellow committee members have worked tirelessly on this issue. We’ve listened carefully to all sides, and what we’re putting forward is a robust solution that provides ten years of much needed burial space and protects the SNCI. It’s not a compromise—it’s a well-considered strategy.”

“It also underscores the Green Party’s leadership in ensuring that providing burial space is responsible and aligned with its commitment to environmental preservation. This is about doing what’s right for Bristol.”

In March 2020 and January 2024, the council’s Cabinet approved plans to expand the cemetery into land adjacent to the site to provide further burial capacity up to the year 2039. Planning permission for the proposed expansion was controversially approved in November 2023.

The decision to expand has been revisited by the new Green-led council following the local elections in May and following widespread public support for protecting the SNCI, including from the Greens.

Cllr Fi Hance, who sits on the committee, said: “Thanks to the hard work of Green councillors, this amendment protects the SNCI and I hope addresses the fears of those worried about the fate of Yew Tree Farm.

“It also means that burials across the council will still pay for themselves, stopping money coming from improvements to our city’s parks at a time when the council is under significant financial pressure.”

“The Greens are committed to addressing the ecological emergency, and we will work with officers to make sure that the SNCI remains protected, now and in the future.”

The Council will also establish a task group to further investigate solutions for the future, giving the city more time to develop a comprehensive burial strategy while maintaining the dignity and respect that residents deserve in their final resting places.

NOTES:

• Full amendment to option 2:

Continue with the project but on a reduced scale – Remove Area 3 from the project – no burials within the SNCI area. Only proceed with Area 1 expansion. This will still require the Attenuation Pond to be formed within the SNCI. 

ADDS: The current plans require the attenuation pond to be formed within the SNCI. However, officers will prioritise investigating alternative drainage solutions that do not rely on systems running through the SNCI. They will consider all mitigation options, and no final decisions regarding drainage infrastructure will be made without thorough assessment of the environmental impact and the feasibility of alternatives.

Deliver approximately 870 standard coffin burial plots, 800 Cremated Remains Plots and 260 Baby Burial Plots in 2025. Provides forecasted provision for up to 10 years.

Additionally, set up a member task and finish group to determine the mid- and long-term future of Bristol’s burial provision.”

• Full papers here – ModernGov – bristol.gov.uk
• Speech from Cllr Malik on the amendment available upon request