Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council faces a shortage of burial spaces across its graveyards. An audit committee heard that only Lisburn New Cemetery permits new plot purchases, and only at the time of death.

A risk report outlines an 18-month plan to increase capacity by stacking burials and placing up to a dozen urns of ashes in single plots. The council requires 144 spaces each year.

Alderman James Tinsley asked about the risk of running out of spaces. He stated the council has two to four years before current spaces fill.

The report details a phased strategy to deliver 565 new plots. This would extend capacity for about four years.

Mitigation plans include seeking planning permission for single-depth double plots, vaults for ashes, and single plots for up to 12 urns.

A council officer said the council approached an estate agent to acquire land for burials. The officer noted quicker progress expected with the planning process.

An officer stated the council has no statutory obligation to provide burial plots to the public, except for welfare burials. The officer added that the council may have a moral responsibility for public spaces.

Tinsley responded that he did not know the council had no obligation to provide plots.