A NEW cemetery has opened in Rugby.
Mayor Barbara Brown cut the ribbon at an opening ceremony for the new cemetery at Rainsbrook Crematorium, 18 months after Leamington-based O’Brien Contractors started work on site.
The new cemetery has more than 4,100 grave plots and has been designed to improve access for the disabled, with 12 disabled parking spaces now available and a one-kilometre network of new roads and pathways.
More than 200 trees and 13,000 shrubs have also been planted at the site, together with bulbs and a hedgerow which runs across the entire cemetery to create a wildlife corridor set within a wildflower meadow.
To avoid water flooding the grave plots during heavy rainfall, an intricate drainage system has been installed beneath ground level, which allows water to run into an underground reservoir which then flows at a controlled rate into the Rains Brook.
Work on the cemetery started a decade after Rainsbrook Crematorium first opened its doors in 2014.
A cemetery was included in the original plans for the crematorium, but the council decided to postpone work until the council’s cemeteries at Clifton Road, Croop Hill, Watts Lane and Whinfield were nearer to full capacity.
The new cemetery at Rainsbrook looks set to serve the borough for the next 40 years.
Coun Brown said: “We were delighted to partner with O’Brien Contractors on this major project for Rugby, with the company’s considerable expertise delivering a modern, accessible cemetery built to high environmental standards.
“The landscaping work means the cemetery complements the grounds of the crematorium and the stunning surroundings of Rainsbrook Valley, making it a beautiful place for contemplation and remembrance.”
Rainsbrook Crematorium was built by Rugby Borough Council and the then Daventry District Council, before it became part of the new West Northamptonshire Council in 2021.
Rugby Borough Council has sole responsibility for the operation of Rainsbrook Cemetery, with all grave plots owned by the council.
Visit www.rainsbrookcrematorium.co.uk for more information about Rainsbrook Cemetery and Crematorium.
