Only two burial spaces for Muslims currently remain within Wokingham borough.
The spaces – one each at Mays Lane cemetery in Earley, and at Shinfield cemetery – were discussed at last week’s full council meeting.
Religious belief dictates that burials for Muslims must be grave burials, and that they must commence immediately after death.
It is also customary for burial spaces to be separate from other faiths.
Cllr Stephen Conway, the leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said the authority recognises the ‘critical issue’ of providing more spaces within the borough, but that he ‘can’t say how quickly we will be able to do this’.
He said potential options were increasing provision at the council-run Shinfield cemetery, or creating a new site.
He warned that alternatives would be in the neighbouring Reading borough, which would ‘cost Wokingham residents more money’.
The issue was raised by Wokingham Borough councillors Basit Alvi and Majid Nagra, as well as by the MP for Earley and Woodley Yuan Yang.
Basit Alvi said he had been approached by ‘multiple residents and community representatives’ across the borough regarding the problem.
Majid Nagra told Wokingham Today that the lack of space means Wokingham residents will be forced to use Caversham Cemetery, and that means for people from outside the Reading Borough Council boundary will be required to pay triple the charges for the graves (currently £5,925 for an earth grave and £7,430 for a vault grave).
Last weekend he organised a meeting between Yuan Yang MP and local faith leaders.
During the meeting, Shakil Khan and Faisal Mushtaq from Aisha Mosque said they were concerned about having to travel out of the borough to Reading or Bracknell, where they would have to pay higher charges than in Wokingham.
Muslim residents account for almost one in ten residents of Ms Yang’s constituency, according to the 2021 census.
Ms Yang said it is a ‘deeply pressing and troubling issue’ for the community, and that both ‘short and long term’ solutions were needed.
Following the meeting, she wrote to leaders of Earley Town Council, which runs Mays Lane cemetery, and Wokingham Borough Council.
She wrote: “Dignity in death is a fundamental human need for us all, regardless of religion or place of residence.
“Muslim families across Earley deserve to have peace of mind that a burial space will be available for their residents
“I am mindful of the worry this problem adds for those residents who are already dealing with the stress of family illness or bereavement.”
