Improvement work to start at Hailsham Cemetery

Additional improvements and repair works are scheduled to take place at the cemetery in Ersham Road over the course of the next few months.

Hailsham Town Council says the improvements will see a refurbishment of the New Garden of Remembrance section of the cemetery, which will involve the re-laying of paving slabs, the installation of a new weed membrane and larger 20mm gravel.

Work is also due to be carried out on the old chapel, with a full re-roof incorporating new slate tiles, guttering and leadwork.

The chapel doors are scheduled for repair and repainting, which should be completed by the summer.

Furthermore, some ground has been cleared and reclaimed at the south end of the cemetery.

The council’s Richard Grocock said, “Hailsham Cemetery is a quiet, secluded burial ground run by the town council and maintained for maximum peace for those visiting loved ones.

“We want to ensure our cemetery provides a fitting and appropriate place for people to visit their loved ones which is why we continue make improvements by carrying out any upgrades and repair work necessary on site.

“By doing this, we can ensure the cemetery remains a place the community can be truly proud of.”

Hailsham Cemetery offers spaces for the burial of coffins, as well as two Gardens of Remembrance and a separate space available for the interment of cremated remains.

The cemetery also includes an area for ‘meadowland burials’ – for unmarked ‘green’ burials in bio-degradable coffins with no monuments or headstones.

The council says the cemetery grass is cut around the graves on a regular basis and to a generally high standard. The rest of the cemetery is maintained and repaired regularly by the town council’s cemetery superintendent, and the authority endeavours to inspect and assess the condition of the cemetery as much as possible.

Hailsham Cemetery is generally open from ‘dawn until dusk’ and anyone intending to visit and wish to enquire about where a particular burial plot is, should call the burials officer on 841702 9am-4pm Monday to Friday.