Richmond upon Thames Council has decided to proceed with reclaiming a portion of the Shacklegate Lane allotments to extend Teddington Cemetery, despite significant public opposition.
The Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee met on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, to discuss the future of the allotments. A petition with over 1,700 signatures was presented, highlighting the allotments' long history, their importance as a green lung, and community concerns over the loss of local food production space.
Mrs. Jane Cowling, representing the petitioners, urged the committee to reconsider, stating that the world has changed since the decision was first made in the 1990s, with increased public concern for sustainability, green spaces, and locally grown food. She argued that the needs of the living community should be given greater weight and that alternative burial solutions exist.
Officers, however, clarified that Teddington Cemetery currently has only one burial plot remaining. The single plot is expected to be fully utilized soon, with two funerals scheduled that will allocate the remaining spaces. The reclamation of the allotments is projected to provide approximately 30 years of burial space, based on current modelling. Officers also clarified that it should take 12 months for the ground to settle after the work is complete, not 24 months as might be assumed.
While reusing old graves is a long-term goal, officers explained that current legislation and practical difficulties make it a complex and time-consuming process. The Law Commission's report on burials, which proposes extending the period for grave reuse from 75 to 100 years (or 125 if a family objects), was discussed, with officers noting that this could further delay such options. Specifically, reusing graves is fragmented, difficult, and requires manual searches of records. Even after research, graves may not be usable due to depth, proximity to other graves, or the type of equipment needed. Some graves might only be usable for cremation, not burial.
Mrs. Cowling and Councillor Jonathan Cardi suggested alternative burial solutions. Mrs. Cowling advocated for preserving a meaningful portion of the allotments while better solutions are explored. Councillor Cardi proposed narrowing unused roads at the back of sites to create burial space and utilizing unused space in Area L within Chakra Gap End Cemetery, which has Victorian-sized graves that are not full-size for current use. He also suggested that most people do not need extra-size burials and that those requiring modern-size ones could be accommodated by reclaiming some roads and turning them into paths.
However, council officers advised that reclaiming the allotments in one phase was necessary due to the need for excavation and the safety implications of construction traffic, making a phased approach unfeasible. Melissa Jacobs-Loway, Strategic Business Manager for the Cemetery Service, explained that excavation would cause ground movement, posing a risk to public safety, especially with construction traffic. Councillor Gant had sought clarification on the advantages or disadvantages of a phased approach, but the advice from those managing the construction plan was to avoid placing anyone at risk.
Despite the strong public opposition and arguments from speakers, including Councillor Chas Warlow and Councillor Jonathan Cardi, who advocated for preserving a portion of the allotments and exploring alternative burial solutions, the committee ultimately proceeded with the council's plan, acknowledging a statutory duty to provide burial space.
The council is planning to present a cemetery strategy to the committee later in the year, informed by the Law Commission's report. This strategy will be subject to consultation and aims to facilitate well-informed policy decisions for the future. Officers also mentioned that they are awaiting a further review by the Law Commission concerning end-of-life options. The current reclamation of Teddington Cemetery is expected to provide 30 years of burial space, allowing ample time for these future decisions.
