Barnet holds eco-burial debate

8:07am Saturday 3rd May 2008

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People are said to get the shivers if someone walks across their grave. But a group of Barnet councillors say that is exactly what some residents want after they pass away.

The group, led by Councillor John Hart, hopes to convince Barnet Council to open a woodland burial site.

A free vote on the proposal was passed at a full council meeting in January, and last week the issue was passed from the cleaner, greener transport and scrutiny committee to council officers to investigate further.

Mr Hart is optimistic that the report, due on June 11, will convince the council to go ahead with the proposal.

He said: "There are now 180 woodland sites in the country. It's becoming a business, with people buying up places to do this.

"It's something that people like. There's no monument, no stone, no nothing. It's just a peaceful spot for whoever wishes to be buried there.

"Lots of people for religious or environmental reasons don't like the idea of cremation, so it's a useful alternative. A third of Barnet's land is open, so there is plenty of space for it.

"There are also financial benefits. People would pay a fee to be buried there, so it would provide a useful stream of income, with the advantage that there would be no aftercare or maintenance to pay for the next 100 years."

But not all councillors at the scrutiny committee meeting on April 22 agreed.

Councillor Marina Yannakoudakis refused to use her role as chairman to decide the issue following a tied vote, but said she opposed the idea on religious and health grounds.

She said: "As a Greek Orthodox I feel we need to respect bodies when they die and all through the ages man has buried the dead where you can visit them. As I understand it, these graves would have no memorial and be buried in cardboard.

"I also don't think Barnet has enough woodlands to give up as graveyards. I'm not sure that most people would want to take their dog or child to a wood that they knew had people buried there."

Rebecca Lowe