More graves in Croydon could start to be reused due to a lack of burial space.

The council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport has said graveyards in the borough are almost at capacity.

Cllr Oliver Lewis told the scrutiny and overview committee on Tuesday (December 11): “We have a fantastic team who work from the crematorium and other sites around the borough and they are doing great work around dealing with the scarcity of new space for burials.

“It remains challenging, we are looking at expanding Greenlawn in Warlingham but there are some planning issues with Tandridge Council.”

Greenlawn Memorial Park is managed by Croydon Council, which wants to expand the graveyard on green belt land over the border in Surrey.

In February, Tandridge Council refused plans for the extension for the second time.

The first time was back in 2013, when the decision went to appeal but was rejected by the planning inspectorate.

At the meeting, Cllr Lewis added: “The team at the crematorium are looking to sensitively and appropriately reclaim grave sites where they can.

“Ultimately, in a few years time, we are reaching maximum capacity in terms of burial.”

Due to limited availability, graves at Greenlawn are only sold for “immediate use”.

At the other two cemeteries owned by Croydon Council in Mitcham Road and Queen’s Road, there are no new graves available.

But both have some reclaimed graves and reclaimed cremated remains graves.

Information on the council website says: “Each grave is reclaimed with great care.

“Graves are only used where the owner is deceased, no burial has occurred for at least 75 years and the grave is unvisited and neglected.

“Each grave will have space remaining for one, two or rarely three burials.

“Only this unused space will be used and no previously interred remains will be disturbed or moved in any way.

“The grave is only reclaimed after extensive attempts to contact the previous grave owner have occurred, including newspaper advertising.”