KNUTSFORD Town Council aims to make Knutsford Cemetery the best in Cheshire with a series of ambitious plans for the site in 2020.

The council marked the turn of the new year by becoming a burial authority as Knutsford Cemetery returned to local control.

This followed a review of options in September 2018 when the council decided to end the service agreement with Cheshire East Council.

The five-acre site on Tabley Road opened in 1902, and whilst it had been managed by Cheshire East Council and the former Macclesfield Borough Council since 1974 its ownership has always been held by the town council.

Knutsford Mayor Cllr Andrew Malloy said: “Our aim is to have a place of remembrance in which we can all commemorate, remember and spend time with our loved ones, a place which the community can be truly proud of, and we believe the town council is best placed to deliver this.”

The council said it would be introducing a number of changes this year as part of ambitious plans to make the cemetery the best in Cheshire.

The plans include installing new bins across the cemetery to make it easier for visitors to dispose of on-site waste, creating new flower beds at the entrance and installing additional benches for visitors.

The improvements will also see the planting of trees to replace those felled in the past, re-standing fallen gravestones and removing existing ‘road blocks’ made with old gravestones and replacing them with flower planters.

A new part-time post of cemetery groundskeeper has been created, and will start in March with the aim of ensuring the cemetery is continually well cared for.

On top of the essential maintenance the groundskeeper will be levelling lawns and tackling areas overtaken by weeds.

The groundskeeper will help the council minimise costs and cut carbon emissions by composting all green waste generated at the cemetery, creating compost which will be used on site.

The transfer of the cemetery operation is being delivered at no cost to the Knutsford taxpayer as costs are forecast to be covered by the fees charged for burials.

READ>> Come dine with Knutsford Mayor at Gusto

Cllr Jan Nicholson, deputy chairman of the council’s Assets and Operations Committee and a member of the council’s cemetery working group said: “We have been exploring the options on how best to manage the cemetery for a number of years, and with it now back under direct town council control we are looking forward to making improvements and maintaining a quality cemetery for our residents.”

READ>> IPSA rules on complaint against Esther McVey

The council welcomes feedback on the services it offers, especially suggestions as to how it can work to make the cemetery as welcoming and pleasant as possible.