Sandbach residents will continue to be encouraged to bury their loved ones in Crewe as the local cemetery nears capacity with no plans to expand it.

Sandbach Cemetery has only eight years of capacity remaining, according to projections from Cheshire East Council.

Cllr Sam Corcoran, the ward councillor for Sandbach Heath and East, told Nub News that there were plans to extend the cemetery into the Hassall Road playing field "a number of years ago" under the previous administration, but this did not materialise.

A Nub News reader, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the prospect of having no local cemetery was a "serious issue" for him.

The reader said: "I have lived in Sandbach all my life and I have no links with Macclesfield or Crewe where Cllr Corcoran suggests we get buried.

"Macc and Crewe's cemeteries are nowhere near any public transport links from Sandbach. So, when any elderly next of kin want to visit, they can't by bus or train."

Earlier this year the council introduced new rules that would prevent residents from pre-purchasing graves unless there is "medical evidence of a grave needing to be used within a year".

The reader added: "I would have thought that in death my last wish to be buried in my home town would not be too much to ask? They know they have 6-7 years to address the problem by buying some land locally and getting it consecrated. How hard can it be?"

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Cllr Corcoran, who stressed he was not speaking in his role as council leader, said he is "open to discussion" on the idea of reviving the cemetery expansion proposals but warned, "it would mean the loss of open the green space area".

He added that it is "the policy at the moment is to encourage people to use Crewe and Macclesfield."

Cheshire East Council has been contacted for comment.