WORK has at last begun to expand a Radnorshire cemetery three years after land was bought by the county council adjacent to the current graveyard.

Work to extend Presteigne Cemetery has started and, when complete, will provide enough space at the facility for the next 100 years.

Powys County Council (PCC) bought the land adjacent to the cemetery off Presteigne and Norton Town Council for £47,000 in 2018 – when it was reported that the cemetery only had enough burial spaces for another seven years.

The expansion will reportedly cost £120,000 but the county council said it would cut demand on other nearby council cemeteries.

The Presteigne work, which is taking place on land next to the existing cemetery, started last week and included removing hedgerows in advance of the nesting season. As well as additional burial capacity it will include 20 car parking spaces as well as improved access to the site.

Work to install infrastructure will commence shortly and is expected to take between four to six weeks to complete. The county council bought the land next to the cemetery from Presteigne and Norton Town Council, which already had permission for use as a cemetery.

Council plans to extend the operation of another cemetery in Montgomeryshire has also taken important steps forward this week.

As work gets under way in Presteigne, planning permission has been granted for an extension to Machynlleth Cemetery.

PCC cabinet member for regulatory services, Councillor Graham Breeze, said: “I am delighted to see real progress on these important cemetery extension schemes.

“When complete they will provide enough capacity for 100 years and take pressure of neighbouring cemeteries.

“We thank members of Presteigne and Norton Town Council and the local county councillor Beverley Baynham for their work and co-operation in delivering this project.

“The county council is pleased that it has received planning permission to develop a new cemetery at Y Plas, Machynlleth, and is already in discussion with the town council to transfer land so that infrastructure work can start.”