Muslim community granted own burial space

MUSLIM community granted own burial space FOLLOWING a request from the Muslim community, part of the planned extension to the cemetery off Western Way will be allocated for the use of Muslim burials.

The request, that was made via the Melksham Family of Churches, was considered at last week’s Melkshan Area Board. A detailed report had been submitted from Wiltshire Council’s environmental services, which provided a number of potential solutions. Area board councillors and attendees were unanimous in agreeing on the option to; “Grant the request to allocate a separate area for Muslim burials, but not to delineate this and not to pre-allocate any plots.

“A Muslim area could be placed at one end of the extension, whilst the other is used for ‘non-Muslim’ burials. Both areas would be filled as needed. The Muslim graves could be oriented at right angles to Mecca in this scenario. There would be no financial implications.”

Once the extension to the cemetery is completed, the allocations will be plotted as agreed at the area board meeting.