By Duncan Bick

Last updated at 14:41, Friday, 16 November 2012

The solution to a shortage of space in an historic graveyard has been backed by church authorities.

Arthuret Parish Church

Improvements to the church’s grounds are set to come about as a result.

Arthuret Parish Church, outside Longtown, is running out of places for new graves. The situation is so bad it was in danger of being full within two years.

The rector’s warden, James Bell, came up with a solution to this issue. This is to bury people near paths at the back and sides of the graveyard.

Dr Bell explained that the only other alternative was to buy a new plot of land, which would be expensive and eventually fill up. This would mean more purchases, and more expense, in the near future.

He took his suggestion to a public meeting last month and received support for it.

His audience supported the proposal and it now has the backing of the church council after a meeting of that body.

Now the money which would have been used to buy land is available, Dr Bell, 62, who lives in Gretna, wants to put some ideas into practice.

“It has freed up a bit of money,” he said. “So we can do some work that is of much more immediate benefit.”

He added: “I’m planning on doing other stuff .

“I want to put new paths in and upgrade the existing churchyard.”

Dr Bell also said a key part of the improvements will be to make the churchyard more easily accessible for the disabled.

He also plans on making use of community service probationers as labour.

First published at 14:13, Friday, 16 November 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk