£11,000 fencing boost for cemetery

Thousands of pounds is set to be spent improving security at a Black Country cemetery after concerns were raised by visitors.

New fencing worth £11,000 is being installed at Powke Lane cemetery in Rowley Regis using money from the area's town team. Work to install the fencing will start in the next few weeks.

The new fencing, which has been funded by the Rowley Regis town team, is being installed following talks between Sandwell Council and bereaved families who were calling for improved security at the site.

Councillor Barbara Price said the town team had been approached by a number of people concerned about the security at the cemetery and a site visit was arranged.

She said: "At the end of the day we do not want to see any form of anti-social behaviour at the site and we want to keep the cemetery in first-class condition."

The new fencing is just one of £1.4 million planned improvements, with upgrades to include enlarging the chapel, providing a new waiting room, increasing car parking and installing new cremators.

It is hoped the improvements will give users a similar service to that provided at the £3.25m Sandwell Valley Crematorium in West Bromwich.

Proposals include enlarging the chapel to accommodate larger funeral parties, the provision of improved music facilities and seating and a waiting room for families arriving early.

The site in Powke Lane has served the area since 1962, carrying out in the region of 900 cremations every year.