In response to the Press Notice 63/1999-2000 I am instructed to register my Council's opposition to plans for Wigton Cemetery to be administered by a nationally run organisation.

  Wigton Cemetery is run by an autonomous burial board to which representatives of three parishes are appointed. Each year the Wigton Burial Joint Committee sets its own budget and this becomes part of the precept of the three local councils.

  At the time of local government reorganisation in 1974, Wigton along with the other two parishes had the option to hand our cemetery over to the new District Council and it was unanimously agreed that it would not be in the best interests of our parishioners to do this.

  Since then we have no reason to believe that this was not the best course of action.

  Although it is on the outskirts of the town, Wigton Cemetery has no vandalism problem, is meticulously maintained and is a credit to the three local communities. In recognition of this the two groundsmen received a well-deserved highly commended award in the Wigton in Bloom competition this year.

  Wigton Town Council can see no purpose in changing the existing arrangements and I would ask that our opposition to these proposals be placed on record.

December 2000