Cemetery chapel demolition put on hold

Plans to demolish a disused chapel at a cemetery in Barnsley have been paused following a wave of public opposition and emotional appeals shared widely across social media.

The Darfield chapel was due to be removed to make way for about 100 new cremation plots.

But, after concerns from local councillors and members of the public, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has put the scheme on hold to allow further discussion with the community.

Early conversations are now under way about forming a "Friends of Darfield Cemetery" group, with the aim of preserving and potentially repurposing the building.

Public concern was piqued after a photo of the formal demolition notice, posted on the door of the chapel, was shared on social media.

Residents began sharing personal stories and memories connected to the chapel, describing it as a symbolic part of Darfield's history.

Councillor James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, said he understood the emotional connection generations of residents had to the cemetery.

"In response to feedback from local councillors and members of the public, we are pausing the current demolition plans to enable further discussion to take place at a local level and to gauge the community's view on how best to ensure that Darfield Cemetery can continue to meet the needs of local residents both now and in the future," he added.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the chapel has been unused for more than 30 years.

The council said restoring it would require a significant investment and Bereavement Services did not have the resources to maintain the chapel in the long-term.

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