I’ve not had much to write about recently, but have planned a couple of posts on Brookwood Cemetery and the Brookwood Lye Development. I’m still waiting for some info regarding the Lye, but will cover the Cemetery now.
WBC acquired Brookwood Cemetery a few years ago with the goal of saving our heritage and then improving the cemetery and returning it to its Victorian roots as a Victorian park area. Since then, an enormous amount of work has gone on and last year won an award for the best large cemetery in the country. I asked the person responsible for the cemetery for an update.
Brookwood Cemetery are part way through the rebuilding of some 350m (10%) of boundary wall which was identified as being structurally unsound. This has necessitated the use of peak hour traffic lights on the A322 and temporary lights on Cemetery Pales. The wall is being rebuilt to modern design standards with special coping bricks purpose made to match the existing. Unfortunately emergency works by UKPN meant the agreed programme of works with Surrey Highways on the A322 were delayed and as no works are allowed on the road during December the decision was taken to stop work entirely and recommence in the Spring when hopefully there will be less risk of adverse weather.
A contract for entirely cemetery new signage has recently been let and this will start to appear in the cemetery around Easter time. This is intended to create a single unified image and do away with the plethora of different signs. New notice boards, signposting and interpretation panels are all included as part of this project. Additional brown highways signs are being put up for those travelling from the Aldershot direction to better signpost drivers to the appropriate cemetery.
A contract for the restoration of the Colquhoun chapel within the cemetery has also been let to a specialist restoration company and will start in April.
Staff facilities have been improved and upgraded.
New digital cctv has been installed and is being commissioned.
A planning consultancy have been appointed and are producing a masterplan for the cemetery which should be complete by late Summer. This will help the cemetery in attracting further funding from groups such as the heritage lottery fund.
Cheers.
Kevin
Cllr Kevin Davis 