This agreement was upheld by Bourne Town Council in 1978 and continued alongside the “Bourne Cemetery Agency Agreement” with South Kesteven District Council until 1988. Funeral Directors stopped using the Chapel then as they have their own modern and more suitable facilities at their own sites, which are user friendly, and also meet all government legislation. Whilst the Town Council did allow the chapel to be used for funeral services on a few occasions in the past, the last time it was used for a service was back in December 2001.

The council is aware of structural problems at the chapel, and is also concerned, that whilst some residents would like to see the chapel retained on the site, the cost to residents of any major remedial work could be prohibitive. It is unlikely grants can be secured for the work, and the Council would need to raise monies through the local precept.

The council first published information about the structural problems in Spring 2005, and a rough estimate to retain the outward appearance of the chapel and be able to use it as a workshop and store amounts to at least £80,000. Such monies would only cover structural work without considering other key elements such as windows or utilities. A conversion of the building to make it also more suitable for further staff use, has been estimated to cost at least £200,000.

The council is investigating further ideas for the re-use of the building albeit not as a chapel, and the cost for completely removing the chapel. The council is also looking at the future use of the existing cemetery bungalow, and has just received permission to change the use of this to provide a cemetery office & staff facilities; at the moment the use of the bungalow has been considered to be a temporary measure. However a condition of the planning permission states “the residential appearance of the site shall be retained and maintained when the proposed change of use has been carried out.” This will obviously restrict any ideas the council might be able to develop for the bungalow in the future.

During the last two years, whilst committed to maintaining and operating the cemetery efficiently, and seeking to provide space for future burials, the council has been in negotiation with a company that was interested in purchasing the chapel and bungalow along with some surrounding land which could have restored the building back to being a Chapel of Rest. Regrettably, these negotiations broke down, due to circumstances beyond the control of the council. For obvious reasons such delicate discussions involving as they did, sensitive commercial and contractual matters had to be conducted in confidence, recognising the wishes of other parties, although the Council would, of course, have made public any outcomes.

The council is now determined to find the most acceptable solution to this difficult situation, but recognises it must be in the best interest of the public generally, and one that will also provide the best long-term value option. The council does fully appreciate there may be people in the town with other views regarding the future of the building, and it hopes to be able to present its thoughts on the best possible option in the very near future. The council does not have the option to do nothing.

6th NOVEMBER 2006