A CEMETERY that is almost at full capacity is set to be expanded onto land which was formally used as part of a quarry.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has given the go-ahead for a 2,440sq m field next to Gorstage Cemetery to be used as part of the graveyard.

The land was previously part of Forest Hill Quarry, but it has since been gifted by Cemex to Cuddington Parish Council – which runs the cemetery in partnership with Weaverham and Acton Bridge parish councils.

Although the site is in greenbelt land, CWAC planning officers believe the benefits to the site’s expansion outweigh any harm done to the countryside by the cemetery’s expansion.

The land will be used for earth burials, a remembrance garden for the interment of ashes, and to provide spaces for reflection and small memorials.

After the planning application was submitted last summer, Cllr Pat Chrimes, chairman of Weaverham, Cuddington and Action Bridge joint cemetery committee, said: “The land was given to Cuddington Parish Council some years ago.

“We need the land because we are drastically running out of spaces.

“There is still space for a few years but we need to make plans now.”

The fence between the existing cemetery on Weaverham Road and the additional piece of land has already been removed, while hedging and fencing is in place to show the boundary.

Arrangements are due to be made with the Diocese of Chester to consecrate the land.