Fake news!
Unfortunately, the Friends of Calderstones and Brockhall Hospital Cemeteries continue to make allegations that Remembrance Parks Construction Ltd (RPC) will be constructing buildings and car parks over, quote, “the remains of hundreds of men, women and children”. THIS IS UNTRUE and, despite being asked for the names of those patients they allege are buried in the areas to be developed, the Friends have not been able to provide any evidence at all that any burials have taken place in these areas. These recent allegations follow on from allegations made by the Friends, that they had discovered 20 previously unknown Catholic burials, claiming that unregistered burials had taken place. A little research by RPC was able to provide statutory records demonstrating beyond doubt that this allegation was untrue.
Such claims cause unnecessary distress to the families and friends of those who may be buried in the cemetery. We are now, regrettably, having to take legal advice in order to ensure only factual information, supported by credible evidence and documentation, can be used in public forums or on social media. RPC are more than happy to investigate any reasonable concerns regarding burials, where a name can be provided. Unfortunately, vague recollections from over 20 years ago, that can be shown to be full of contradictions, cannot be considered as reasonable evidence. Even then, we have taken such concerns onboard and have reviewed the ground penetrating radar survey evidence and re-examined both statutory records and hospital records and have found absolutely no evidence that any burials have taken place in the cemetery, which we are not already aware of.
Remembrance Parks Construction Ltd has no doubt that the works will not take place over any burials and that no burials will be disturbed during construction. We have ensured that during the construction phase, detailed precautions will be taken to protect any areas where burials have taken place.
We are now confident to move forward once again and work continues on the preparation for the development of this much needed crematorium. As many of you will know RPC already has planning permission for the crematorium, and an area of land has recently been deconsecrated, this allows further preparation work to continue.
As part of his decision to deconsecrate a part of the cemetery, the Bishop of Blackburn requires that the deconsecrated area is only to be used for the building of a crematorium. This will obviously need car parking, the renovation of the chapels and provision of access roads, as per the current planning permission. The ancillary areas now need faculty approval from the Church of England as the ground on which the work will be carried out, remains consecrated. Most of you will be aware that these works are on areas where RPC have provided detailed evidence, including the ground penetrating radar surveys and detailed statutory and hospital records, showing the only burials within the car parking areas, are within the one Garden of Remembrance and the graves of the Booth Hall babies. These areas, along with all other burial areas, will be suitably protected throughout any construction work, as shown on our three phase construction plans. We can confidently assure everyone that NO BURIALS WILL BE DISTURBED.
The provision of the crematorium will not only provide much needed high quality cremation services but limited burials will also be permitted. After the many years where there has been insufficient funding for the cemetery, the crematorium will provide sustainable funding to ensure:
·Staffing to assist visitors to the cemetery and crematorium
·Memorialisation for all those buried in the cemetery
·An electronic book of remembrance
·Information and signage telling the story of the heritage of the cemetery
·High standards of grounds maintenance
·Good access to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Military Cemetery during normal working hours
A notice has now been placed on the gates of the cemetery and at the Church of Saint Mary, Whalley, giving details of our faculty application. Please remember this is likely to be the only option to ensure the sensitive development of the site, providing sustainable funding to provide memorialisation for those buried in the cemetery and avoid the further deterioration of the chapels, the lychgate and the grounds. This will provide long term benefits to the local community and the heritage of the cemetery. The alternative put forward by the Friends, is their hope that the cemetery may be acquired and maintained using public funding. Given the current financial position of most local authorities, this would be extremely unlikely and would condemn the memory of those buried in the cemetery into the history books. The provision of the crematorium will bring new life into the cemetery, will tell the story of those buried there and will provide memorialisation to be sustained in perpetuity.
Should you have any queries on this post, then please feel free to contact us by email on:
