TOWN councillors will this week debate plans to renovate Penarth Cemetery Chapel in order to extend the provision of ashes on the site.

A report which will go before councillors on Thursday (October 19) will suggest the development of new facilities which is hoped will extend the working life of the cemetery.

It would include columbarium which are walls or structures with cavities designed to hold cremation urns.

This is because current burial capacity at the cemetery is approaching capacity with space for full burial plots potentially running out in about six months to a year.

The report suggests the columbarium could be installed in the old Vestry and the old Mortuary.

There is also a suggestion for scatter lawns to be included for the dispersal of ashes in the avenue of trees which runs through the middle of the cemetery with a memorial book housed in the main area of the chapel.

The estimated cost of feasibility and design works for the renovation is between £9000 and £10,000.

The council says it is looking at ways to ensure the future use of the cemetery for cremated remains.

The first burial took place in Penarth Cemetery in 1903 but now just 20-25 plots remain available for full coffin burials.

The report says around 100 cremated remains plots can be created within the current area of the cemetery which will extend the provision for cremated remains plots by about one or two years.

It states: "The introduction of such facilities would obviously extend the working life of the cemetery for the benefit of current and future generations of local residents.

"The renovation of the chapel would also introduce a valuable flexible community space into the lower Penarth area."

There is a suggestion the chapel could be used for traditional memorial services and for community meetings and activities as well as having information about the history of those buried on the site.

Although the chapel is described as being structurally sound, it has significant dilapidation to historical features that will continue to degrade if remedial work is not carried out.

The report recommends that members agree to a tendering process to appoint architects to develop a design and to start a public consultation on the idea.