There is anger across our county as Macclesfield Cemetery has been recommended to bury loved ones who hail all the way from Sandbach.

Despite being over 15 miles away, Macclesfield Cemetery is recommended to bury Sandbach residents who have passed away, as councillors opposed plans to expand Sandbach Cemetery.

Sandbach's burial site is set to have no capacity remaining within the next eight years, according to projections from Cheshire East Council. This means Macc will have to bury people from outside our town.

Cllr Sam Corcoran, the ward councillor for Sandbach Heath and East, told Nub News that there were plans to extend Sandbach cemetery "a number of years ago" under the previous administration, but this did not materialise.

A Nub News reader, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the prospect of being buried in a town alien to them was a "serious issue".

The reader said: "I have lived in Sandbach all my life and I have no links with Macclesfield where Cllr Corcoran suggests we get buried.

"Macc or Crewe's cemeteries are nowhere near any [direct] public transport links from Sandbach. So, when any elderly next of kin want to visit, they can't by bus or train."

It currently takes an hour-and-a-half to catch a train from Macclesfield to Sandbach, with changes at Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe.

In February, the council introduced new rules that would prevent residents from pre-purchasing graves unless there is "medical evidence of a grave needing to be used within a year".

The reader added: "I would have thought that in death my last wish to be buried in my hometown would not be too much to ask? They know they have six-to-seven years to address the problem by buying some land locally and getting it consecrated. How hard can it be?"

Cllr Corcoran, who stressed he was not speaking in his role as council leader, said he is "open to discussion" on the idea of reviving the cemetery expansion proposals but warned, "it would mean the loss of open the green space area".

He added that it is "the policy at the moment is to encourage people to use Crewe and Macclesfield."

Other Cheshire taxpayers may soon be recommended to use Macc's 68-acre burial site, located on Prestbury Road.

Knutsford Cemetary will have no space left for beloved family members who wish to be buried by 2039.

Wilmslow's will be full even sooner, by 2037. Crewe's Weston cemetery has just 19 years left.

However, approximately 72% of the population of Cheshire East currently live within a 30-minute drive-time at funeral speeds of either or both, of the two largest cemeteries with the most remaining space for burial, Crewe Meadow Brook and Macclesfield cemeteries.

It is thought Macclesfield's Victorian cemetery has at least has 56 years of capacity left.

Cheshire East Council has been contacted to provide a comment, but have not yet responded.

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